^■'%. 


^l|tB  book  fajae  presenteb 

Cullen  E.  Whitley 


JI::lLli;i 


This  book  is  due  on  the  date  indicated 
below  and  is  subject  to  an  overdue      i 
fine  as  posted  at  the  circulation  desk. 


EXCEPTION:  Date  due  will  be 
earlier  if  this  item  is  RECALLED. 


JAM  2  9  1997 
MAY  3  1  ^998 

APR  1  0  2006 


DEPARTMENT  OF  GEOSC.tNUti 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 

JOSEPH  HTDE  PRATT,  State  Geoloftist 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  No.  40 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
DURING  1914 


FORESTRY  LAWS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


J.  S.  HOLMES.  State  Forestf 


RALEIGH 

E.  M.  UzzELL  &  Co.,  State  Pbintebs  ado  BraoEBa 

1913 


0!L?.O 


NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY 

JOSEPH  HYDE   PRATT,   State  Geolot^ist 


ECONOMIC  PAPER  No.  40 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA 
DURING  1914 


FORESTRY  LAWS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA 


J.  S.  HOLMES,   State  Forestc 


RALEIGH 

E.  M.  UzzELL  &  Co.,  State  Printers  and  Binders 

1915 


GEOLOGICAL  BOARD. 

GovERXOK  Locke  Craig,  cx  officio  chairman Kaloij^'h 

Fbaxk  R.  Hewitt Asheville 

Hugh  MacRae Wilmiiigtou 

Henby  E.  Fries Winston-Salem 

John  Sprunt  Hill Durham 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist Chapel  Hill 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


Chapel  Hill,  July  15,  1915. 
To  His  Excellency,  Honorable  Locke  Craig, 

Governor  of  North  Carolina. 
Sir  : — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  for  publication  as  Economic  Paper 
Xo.  40  of  the  reports  of  the  Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  a  report  on  the  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  lOlJf  and 
on  the  Forestry  Laws  of  North  Carolina. 

Since  the  passage  of  the  forestry  laws  by  the  General  Assembly  of 
1915,  there  has  already  been  an  increased  interest  shown  in  regard  to 
the  forests  of  the  State  and  their  presei-vation.  It  is  believed  that  these 
laws  can  be  made  effective  and  that  they  will  be  the  means  of  greatly 
reducing  the  loss  due  to  forest  fires. 

Yours  very  respectfully, 

Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 

State  Geologist. 


CONTENTS. 


FoBEST  Fires  in  North  Carolina  Dvring  1914 : 

Introduction 7 

The  Weather 8 

Relative  Montlily  and  Seasonal  Fire  Risks   (Table  li 9 

Annual  Statement  of  Forest  Fires  in  1914 9 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Regions.     Comparative   Statement    (Ta- 
ble 2) 10 

Summary  of  Reports  by  Counties : 

Mountain  Region    (Table  3i 10 

Piedmont  Region    (Table  4) 11 

Coastal  Plain  Region   (Table  5) 12 

Comparative  Statement  of  Averages  by  Regions   (Table  6) 1.3 

Causes  of  Forest  Fires.    Comparative  Statement  (Table  7) 13 

Organized   Fire   Protection 14 

Results  of  Federal  Protection  in  North  Carolina l.j 

Forest   Fires   in   the    Southern    Appalachian    Purchase    Areas 

(Table  S) 1.5 

Results  of  Partial  Protection 16 

Damage  in  Partially  Protected  Areas   (Table  9) 16 

Forestry  Laws  of  North  Carolina  : 

Introduction IS 

The  State  Geological  Board___ IS 

Law  Creating  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey 19 

Laws  for  the  Protection  of  the  Forests  from  Fire 21 

The  Law  of  1777 21 

More  Recent  Attempts  to  Secure  Effective  Laws 22 

The  New  Forest  Fire  Law 24 

Administration 26 

Cooperation 26 

Appointment  of  Forest  Wardens 27 

Prosecutions 28 

Duties  of  Forest  Wardens 29 

Patrol 30 

The  Power  of  Arrest 30 

Assistance  in  Fighting  Fires 31 

Comiiensation  of  Forest  Wardens 31 

Additional  Protection  to  City  Water  Supplies 32 

The  Law  for  the  Protection  of  City  Watersheds 33 

2 


b  cox  TEXTS. 

Forestry  Laws  of  North  Carolina  : 

Laws  for  the  Creation  of  State  Forests 34 

Needs  for  Demonstratiou  in  Forestry _:. 34 

The  Law  Governing  the  Acquiromeiit  and  Administration  of 

State  Forests 3r» 

Gifts  of  Land  for  State  Forests 30 

Purchasing  State  Forests 37 

Some  Problems  to  Be  Solved 38 

Further  Benefits  of  State  Forests 39 

Mount  Mitfhell  Sbite  Park 39 

The  Mount  Mitchell  Park  Purchase  Law 40 

Fire  Protection  Needed 42 

The  Commission ' 42 

Appalachian  National  Forests 42 

Law  to  Allow  Federal  Acquirement 43 

Acquirement  by  Purchase  Only 43 

Protection  of  Game  on  National  Forests 44 

Law  to  Allow  Federal  I'rotection  of  Wild  Life 44 

Arbor  Day 46 

Arbor   Day   Law 46 

Manner  of  Observance 48 


FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914 


INTRODUCTION. 

Public  interest  in  forest  fire  prevention  in  Xorth  Carolina  is  increas- 
ing year  by  year.  This  is  reflected  in  the  State  press,  which  chronicles 
and  comments  upon  forest  fires  and  the  loss  suffered  by  them  to  a  much 
greater  extent  than  formerly.  It  is  also  seen  in  the  recent  action  of  the 
State  Legislature,  which  enacted  an  excellent  forest  fire  law.  However, 
the  fact  that  the  appropriation  to  make  this  law  effective  was  denied 
shows  that  even  yet  public  opinion  is  not  insistent  enough  or  definite 
enough  to  secure  from  the  representatives  of  the  people  in  the  General 
Assembly  adequate  State  assistance  in  fire  protection. 

The  only  possible  reason  for  this  condition  is  that  our  people  them- 
selves are  not  well  enough  informed  on  this  subject.  They  do  not  yet 
realize  the  pressing  necessity  for  a  permanent  supply  of  timber  for  our 
industries  and  for  the  people  as  a  whole.  They  do  not  yet  understand 
that  where  seedlings  and  young  trees  of  our  more  valuable  species  are 
killed  by  fire  our  future  forests  will  be  of  greatly  reduced  value;  that 
burnt-over  forests  yield  the  minimum  returns  in  timber,  while  protected 
forests  yield  the  maximum ;  that  unburnt  forests  pay  the  highest  returns 
to  the  owners,  to  the  community,  and  to  the  State. 

Forest  fires  result  largely  from  the  indifference  and  consequent  care- 
lessness of  the  people.  Half  the  fires  in  this  State  are  said  to  be  due  to 
the  carelessness  of  the  individual.  By  changing  this  indifference  into 
strong,  active  opposition  to  burning  the  woods,  much  of  the  criminal 
carelessness  now  existing  in  regard  to  forest  fires  will  be  done  away  with. 
It  is  with  the  idea  of  keeping  the  public  informed  as  to  the  real  condi- 
tions of  the  forests  throughout  the  State,  and  so  arousing  them  to  the 
need  of  definite  action,  that  these  annual  reports  continue  to  be  prepared 
and  issued  to  the  people  of  the  State.  Previous  publications  of  the 
Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  in  this  series  are 
'•'Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1909,"  Economic  Paper  Xo.  19  ; 
"Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1910,"  Economic  Paper  Xo. 
22;  "Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1911,"  Economic  Paper 
Xo.  25;  "Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1912,"  Economic  Paper 
Xo.  33;  and  "Forest  Fires  in  Xorth  Carolina  During  1913,"  Economic 
Paper  Xo.  37.  Each  of  these  reports  contains  a  large  amount  of  infor- 
mation about  the  nature  of  the  damage  done  by  forest  fires,  the  causes 


8  FOREST    FIRES    IX    NORTH    CAROLIXA. 

of  fires,  tlie  various  methods  suggested  and  plans  put  iuto  force  to  pre- 
vent them,  and  the  laws  of  the  various  States  and  of  the  United  States 
for  their  control.  Copies  of  most  of  these  Economic  Papers  can  be  had 
free  upon  application. 

THE  WEATHER. 

Extremely  dr^^  weather  has  olteu  been  spoken  of  as  a  frequent  cause 
of  forest  fires.  This,  however,  is  a  misapprehension.  Dry  weather  can 
no  more  cause  a  fire  in  the  woods  than  a  loaded  gun  can  cause  the  death 
of  a  friend.  It  is  the  careless  individual  in  both  cases  who  causes  the 
trouble.  If  carelessness  could  be  eliminated,  the  forest  fire  "caused  by 
dry  weather"  and  the  death  caused  by  the  gun  Avhich  was  "not  loaded" 
would  not  occur. 

But  carelessness  can  only  be  overcome  with  thoughtfulness.  In  order, 
therefore,  to  reduce  the  number  of  fires,  knowledge  of  the  damage  done 
by  them  must  be  spread  and  emphasized  so  that  the  general  public  will 
learn  to  think,  and  so  will  learn  to  exercise  increased  watchfulness  and 
care. 

The  relation  of  carelessness  and  diy  weather  to  forest  fires  in  1914 
is  seen  in  a  casual  perusal  of  the  State  press;  though  even  now,  when 
a  knowledge  of  the  value  of  our  forests  would  seem  to  be  almost  uni- 
versal, some  newspapers,  which  claim  to  be  leaders  of  public  opinion, 
scarcely  notice  even  the  worst  fires.  The  great  majority  of  our  State 
papers,  however,  are  quick  to  point  a  lesson  from  each  destructive  fire. 
It  is  seen,  by  referring  to  the  annual  summary  of  the  United  States 
Weather  Bureau  reports,  that  the  precipitation  over  North  Carolina  for 
the  past  year  was  "2.79  inches  below  normal,"  a  deficiency  of  about  oV-j 
per  cent.  January  was  a  dry  month,  there  being  only  about  two-thirds 
the  normal  amount  of  rainfall.  From  the  4th  to  the  24th  practically  no 
rain  fell.  A  very  destructive  fire  occurred  near  Ridge  Crest  which  was 
caused,  it  was  said,  by  "careless  handling  of  fires  in  the  woods." 

During  February  rainfall  was  about  normal,  but  in  March  there  was 
only  two-thirds  of  the  usual  amount.  It  Avas,  however,  well  distributed, 
and  few  fires  were  reported.  The  A])ril  rainfall  Avas  normal,  most  of  it 
occurring,  however,  before  the  21st  of  tlic  moiitli.  From  that  date  up  to 
the  middle  of  June  precipitation  was  exceptionally  light.  May  was  the 
driest  on  record,  with  the  exception  of  1911,  an  avcranv  of  only  1.38 
inches  falling,  compared  Avith  a  normal  rainfall  of  4.11  inches.  The 
AA'estern  district,  usually  the  AA^ettest,  AA-as  drier  than  \hv  central  or  eastern 
sections,  and  precipitation  Avas  unevenly  distributed.  Forest  fires  Avere 
reported  by  the  neAvspapers  from  the  Linville  section  of  the  mountains 


FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA.  9 

and  from  many  of  the  southeastern  coastal  plain  counties.  The  June 
rainfall  averaged  3.28  inches,  being  about  2  inches  below  the  normal. 
Though  rain  was  general  about  the  middle  of  the  month,  forest  fires 
raged  around  Beaufort  up  to  about  the  20th.  They  were,  also,  exceed- 
ingly destructive  on  Mount  Mitchell.  July  was  also  dry,  and  though 
scattered  showers  fell  in  most  places,  destnictive  fires  still  continued  over 
the  greater  part  of  the  coastal  plain  region. 

The  rainfall  through  August  and  September  was  still  below  normal, 
but  no  fires  were  reported  in  the  daily  papers. 

The  last  three  months  of  the  year  w^ere  the  only  ones  in  which  the 
precipitation  was  above  the  average,  the  December  rainfall  being  easily 
the  heaviest  yet  recorded.  Early  in  N'ovember  fierce  fires  were  raging 
around  the  Black  Mountains  and  at  other  places  in  the  State,  but  the 
fall  fires  were  less  numerous  than  usual. 


Table  I.- 

-RELATIVE MONTHLY  AND  SEASONAL  FIRE  RISKS  IN  1914  AND  AVERAGE 
FOR  FOUR  YEARS  IN  PERCENTAGES. 

1914. 

Average. 

1914. 

Average. 

March 

15 
20 
17 
11 
5 
5 
4 
7 
10 
1 
1 
4 

16.5 

23 

14 

6.5 

6 

5 

5 

7 
10.5 

3 

1 

2.5 

Spring 

•Summer 

52 

21 

■    21 

6 

April 

53.5 

May. 

June-. 

July 

17 

August.  . 

September 

October 

22.5 

November 

Winter . 

December. 

January 

7 

February 

ANNUAL   STATEMENT  OF   FOREST   FIRES    IN    1914. 

The  following  tables  were  compiled  from  more  than  six  hundred  replies 
from  voluntary  correspondents  all  over  North  Carolina.  Though  five 
counties  only  are  unrepresented,  less  than  half  the  townships  of  the 
State  were  reported  for,  and  most  of  these  by  only  one  person.  ITever- 
theless,  the  figures  here  given,  though  undoubtedly  much  less  than  the 
actual  amount  of  fire  damage,  will  convey  to  the  reader  some  idea  of 
the  destruction  annually  occurring  in  our  State,  largely  as  a  result  of 
can 


10 


FOREST   FIHES   IX    XOKTH    CAKOLIXA. 


T.\BLE  2.— FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914.    COMPAR.\TIVE  STATEMENT; 
SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM  CORRESPONDENTS   BY  REGIONSt 


Mountain. 

Piedmont. 

Coastal  Plain. 

State. 

1 

1914. 

Average 
for  Six 
Years. 

1914. 

Average 
for  Six 
Years. 

Average 

1914.      ,    for  Six 

1    Years. 

1914. 

Average 

Total  number  of  townships 
in  region 

166 

454 

370 

990 

. 

Number  of  townships  re- 
porting..  

Number  of  replies  received-. 

Number  of  forest  fires  re- 
ported  


Total  area  burnt  over,  in 
acres 

Total  standing  timber  de- 
stroyed, in  M  feet,  board- 
measure 

Value  of  timber  destroyed-. 

Area  of  young  growth  de- 
stroyed, in  acres 

Value  of  young  growth  de- 
stroyed  

Value  of  forest  products  de- 
stroyed  

Value  of  improvements  de- 
stroyed  

Total  damage  reported 

Number  of  lives  lost 

Cost  to  private  individuals 
to  fight  fires 


S  67, 
S  87: 
$  22, 


176  I     170      212 
,000   141,000  I   60,000 


,000  :  23,000  6,000 

,000  I  S  58,000  S  17,000 

,000  !  47,000  21,000 

,000  $  68,000  $  42,000 

000  '  $  73,000  S  26,000 


000  S  17,000 
000  t  5218,000 


$  13,000 
$  98,000 


196 
240 

230 

101,000 

11,000 
-S  33,000 

32,000 

$  59,000 

$  54,000 

$  22,000 
$170,000 


$    4,400     $    6,000     $ 


$    4,400 


281      238  669 

159,000   155,000  295,000 

I 

23,000    22,000  I   47,000 

S  83,000  -S  63,000  8129,000 

48,000    42,000  100,000 

$111,000  I  $  77,000  $220,000 

$  72,000  I  $  84,000  $185,000 

$  31,000  !  $  26,000  $  66,000 

$297,000  $253,000  $600,000 


.56,000 
S  155,000 

122,000 

S  207,000 

S  212,000 

$  66,000 

$  641,000 

2 


,000  $  8,100  $  15, 


-FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914.     SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 

Mountain  Region. 


County. 

if. 

Ml 

Number  of 
Replies. 

Number  of 
Fires. 

Total  Number 
of  Acres  Burnt 
Over. 

Merchantable 
Timber 
Destroyed,  M. 

1   . 

II 

111 

Value  of  Young 

Growth 

Destroyed. 

Value  of  Prod- 
ucts Destroyed. 

Value  of 

Improvements 

Destroyed. 

Cost  of 
Fighting  Fires. 

Alleghany 

Ashe.... 

8         .1 
15]        4 

7  1        3 

,1 

2  4 
4          3 
9        16 

3  13 

500 

200 

4,100 

1,100 

" 

$ 

"■"500" 

'. 

2,000 

1,000       1,000 
3,762     10,000 
500 

$ $ 

100             100 

Avery . 

150 

4,080. 

.■inn 

500              50 

Buncombe 

Cherokee 

13 
6 
5 
3 
13 
8 
15 
11 
16 
9 
5 
9 
12 
11 

6 
2 

4 
2 

15,000 
10 

10,000 
25 

130 
25 
100 

Clay 

11 
9 

19 
3 

5,. 500 
4  nnn 

272 
100 

1,200       3,450 
ann  ,    .■?  nnn 

9,500 

Graham 

1,000 

Haywood 

Henderson 

Jackson 

5  6 

6  i        7 
3l        4 
8         14 

11         13 

5  8 
3           3 

7  10 

6  6 

12  '    3,700 
1           100 
9       6,650 

18     11,515 
6       3,155 
3           300 

620  :     3,000          200 

35  1     6,175  ;        200 
25  i          85  i     1  708 

200      4,500          600 
25    150 

3  000 

1,050 
1,273 

Macon 

4  nns  '                11  901 

182 

Madison... 

Mitchell 

523       2,075           320       1,052           780       1,050  I          135 
o.i          ion           ."in           m          inn          inn 

Swain 

13     16  fion         iHi         2.in      6  !^m      ~  4i)0      7  (11)1)      1  oon          575 

Transylvania 

Watauga 

46 
3 
7 

3,050 

200 

16,530 

1,025       4,120 
50          250 
373       1,130 

2,615  ^    8,000     13,170           100 

100 
25 

Yancey 

9 

14 

7,530  1  25,800     51,000       7,050 

590 

Totals 

166 

85 

117 

176 

76,250 

18,174  $28,800 

30,806  |$67,287  ^$87,550   $21,854 

$    4,335 

FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA. 


II 


-FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914.     SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 
Piedmont  Region. 


S3 


O.      0300       3oiS 


3     . 

Si 


II 

111 

Eh  oO 


3  "S 


111 


II 

>3 


22 


Alamance 13 

Alexander 8 

Anson 8 

Burke 12 

Cabarrus 12 

Caldw-ell 12 

Caswell 9 

Catawba 8 

Chatham U 

Cleveland 11 

Davidson 17 

Davie 7 

Durham 6 

Forsyth 14 

Franklin 10 

Gaston 6 

Granville 9 

Guilford 18 

Iredell 16 

Lee 7 

Lincoln 5 

McDowell 11 

Mecklenburg |  15 

Montgomery H 

Moore 9~ 

Orange 7 

Person 9 

Polk 6 

Randolph 19 

Rockingham 11 

Rowan 14 

Rutherford 12  j 

Stanly .._  8 

Stokes 8 

Surry _._  14 

Union 9 

Vance 9 

Wake.. 19 

Warren 12 

Wilkes.. 21 

Y'adkin 8 

Totals 454  , 


8 

8 

5 

12 

3 

2 

5 

12 

15 

9 

7 

2 

10 

15 

26 

8 

19 

34 

348  : 

12 


—    S S 

10  25  150 


6  4     21,200 
11  1              5 

4  15     11,100 

7  4  129 
11    


,250       2.500 

5  25 

300       1,500 


11,200 

5 

1,000 


25,200  25 

10  35 

1,000  3,000 

250  50 


5  6  170 

10  5  218 

8  1  12 

15  ;        2  310 

2    

13  4  41 


695 


250 
100 
400 


10      ; 

250 


50 
850 
24 


10  I  2            85 

10  II        860 

2  I  10          623 

4  !        2    

6  25       1,420 


23   8,920     15 
11   4,130     103  1 


440    491 
.750   2,350 


1,000 
27 


12 

760 

— . 

50 

2 

10 

3,501 

540 

204 

7 

10 

150 

990 

5 

200 

20  2,410 

100  !  300 

10  f  40 

,000  I  1,100 

20  !  75 

100  500 

202  410 


2,300 
200 
21 
320 
50 
6 
200 
510 


2,415 
100 


212  60,190  ;  5,733  i$16,995 


2,600 

500 

205 

1,300 

100 

50 

500 

625 

200 

30 

50 

1,175 

2,750 

25 


1,000 
1,035 


100   1,000 
650   5,300 

10  

250   2,000 

100 
130 

10 
100 

50 

35  

400    500 

75 

12 


FOREST    FIRES    IN"    NORTH    CAROLINA. 


T.*.BLE  5.— FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914.     SUMMARY  OF  REPORTS  FROM 
CORRESPONDENTS  BY  COUNTIES. 


Coastal  Pl.un  Region 

County. 

Total  Number 
of  Townships  in 
County. 
Number  of 
Townships 
Reporting. 

li 

Bo. 
1^ 

"o 
1. 

as 
Is 

II 

^£  . 

III 

1   . 

a 
§       . 

ill 

111 

-si 

m 

Beaufort 

Bertie 

6 
9 

15 
6 
3 
9 
4 

14 
9 

11 
5 
5 

13 

14 
7 
9 

12 

13 
6 
5 
4 

17 
7 

12 

10 

14 
4 
9 
5 
4 
6 

10 
5 

11 
7 

19' 

16 
4 
5 
4 

12 

10 

2 

3 
10 

10 
6 

1 
2 
1 
1 

2,000 

1,860 

200 

1,200 

2,000 
115 
10 

$8,000 

335 

40 

6,000 

2,000 
710 
100 

$    6,000 

820 

300 

3,000 

$6,000 
1,100 

$ 

200 

$  1,000 
100 

Bladen. -. 

50 

i             "    1 

250 

1 

- ' 1 1 

Columbus 

24 

14 
11 

12,600 
2,000 

52,000 
5,002 

775, 

1,600 

6,600 

500 

3,100 

3,000 

1,085 

Cumberland- -- 

3,050 

9,150 

10,500 
2 

25,550 
50 

10,100 

5,000 
510 

1,150 

Dare 

Duplin 

2 

2 
2 
1 
4 

( 

Edgecombe 

Gates    

200 

50 

25 

5 

50 

100 

500 

25 

350 

3 

3 

,5 

. 

Halifax 

Harnett 

Hertford ..- 

'' 

10 
12 

5 

1,800 

200 

550 

25 

250 

1,300 

100 

25 

Hoke..-- 

1 

1,000 

20 

Hyde 

Johnston - 

12 
3 

I 

'I 

6 
26 
6 
1 
20 

750 
1,000 

400 
10,000 
2,300 

50 
■100 

100 
1,580 

150 
200 
16 
200 
7,600 

700 

1,000 

300 

1,500 
500 
650 

50 

100 

8 

200 

Martin 

Nash   

1,700 

12,450 

24,150 

15,300 

New  Hanover-.. 

Northampton-  - . 

5 

8 
2 
1 
3 
6 

10 
2 

860 
14,000 
2,325 

100 
13,250 

1 

150 
4,500 
■    400 

100 
6,050 

300 
24,500 
1,600 

300 
16,050 

2,500 

1,000 

1,500 

300 

640 

400 
2,000 

300 

2,500 

1,500 

50 

?35 

11,500 

4,000 

300 

1,780, 

Pamlico 

10 

Pender 

300 

300 

Pitt - 

9 
2 
22 
18 
2 

5 

12,200 
500 
10,700 
9,250 
250 
400 
50 
10 
100 

30 

90 

3,000 

6,500 

10 

500 
14,000 

3,500 

•     500 

1,500 

100 

100 

Robeson 

Sampson 

Scotland 

2,800 
5,010 

100 

8,000 

21,010 

2,000 

200 

9,250 
700 

7,600 
1,500 

1,010 
1.225 

Tyrrell 

400 
50 
5 
25 

500 
250 
20 
200 

50 

Washington. .- 

Wayne 

Wilson- 

2,000 
100 

5 
200 

20 
2,000 

1,000 

25 

Totals.-.. 

370 

129 

161 

281 

158,657 

22,962 

$82,954 

48,347 

$110,940 

$71,818 

$30,660 

$  9,045 

FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 


13 


T.VBLE  6.— FOREST  FIRES  IX  NORTH  CAROLINA  DURING  1914.     COMPARATIVE  STATE- 
MENT OF  AVERAGES  BV  REGIONS  FOR  1914  AND  FOR  SIX  YEARS. 


Piedmont.       Coast.vl  Plain. 


I  i  ' 

lAverage                 Average  Averaee!  |Average 

1914.      for  Six  1914.      for  SLx  1914.      for  Six  I  1914.    j  for  Six 

Years.  |                  Years.  i  Years.  I  .  Years. 


Percentage  of  townships  reporting...  51 

Average  area  of  each  fire,  in  acres. ..         448 

Average  damage  by  each  fire SI, 209 

Average  area  burnt  over  per  town-    i 

ship  reporting,  in  acres I        896 

Average  damage  per  acre  burnt $  2 .  70 

Average  damage  per  township  re- 
porting  _    -52,417  I  S3, 


41  52  ,  43  j 

898  305  447  j 

$1,412     $    491     $    729  I  $1, 


*1,649 
$  1 .50 


S  1.62     S  1.65     S  1.87 


34 

45 

656 

462 

$1,082 

$  939 

*1,292 

657 

$  1.79 

$  2.03 

S  1,C 


S    411     S    861     -52,297  ,  $1,565  ,  $1,335     $  1,657 


*No  township  figures  for  1909. 


-CAUSES  OF  FOREST  FIRES  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA  IN  1914  BY  REGIONS, 
COMPARED  WITH  SIX  YEARS,  IN  PERCENTAGES. 


Moun-         Pied-        Coastal 
tain.  mont.         Plain. 


Average 
for  Six 
Years. 


Farmers  burning  brush,  grass,  rubbish,  etc 

Hunters 

Cigars,  cigarettes,  matches,  etc 

Carelessness 

Railroad  locomotives,  sparks  from 

Logging  locomotives,  dummy  engines,  etc 

Sawmills,  etc 

Traction  engines 

Accidental,  caught  from  burning  building,  etc. 

To  improve  the  range. 

Set  by  chestnut  gatherers,  root  diggers,  etc 

Without  object,  "to  see  it  burn" 

Malice  or  incendiary 

Unknown  causes 

Lightning 

Loafers,  trespassers,  etc 

Campers 

Tar  kilns 


7.5 

4 

7 

11 

7.5 

8.5 

11 

11.5 

4.5 

5 

4 

3 

13 

15 

14 

18 

35 

14 

20 

18.5 

2 

18 

8.5 

7 

4.5 

2 

3 

4 

The  foregoing  tables  show  a  total  reported  damage  from  forest  fires 
in  1914  of  $600,000,  half  of  which  occurred  in  the  coastal  plain  counties. 
This  is  slightly  less  than  the  average  loss  for  the  past  six  years,  though 
very  near  the  average  in  most  particulars. 

The  most  encouraging  feature  is  the  reduction  of  25  per  cent  in  the 

reported  area  burnt  over,  and  this  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  there  were 

more  than  the  average  number  of  fires.     This  Avould  indicate  that  more 

general  efforts  are  being  made  to  extinguish  fires  after  they  have  started ; 

3 


1-i  KOKKST    KIKES    IX     NOKTII    CAROLIXA. 

and  tliis  is  corroborated  by  the  various  newspaper  accounts  of  the  fires. 
This  interpretation,  however,  is  not  borne  out  by  figures  of  cost  to  pri- 
vate individuals,  who  are  reported  to  have  spent  less  money  than  during 
the  previous  year  in  fighting  fires  and  considerably  less  than  the  average 
amount.  The  incompleteness  of  the  reports  is  responsible  for  this  appar- 
ent contradiction.  For  example,  a  devastating  fire  occurred  in  the  north- 
ern parts  of  Camden  and  Gates  counties  at  the  end  of  July,  which  was 
not  mentioned  in  the  voluntary  reports,  yet  large  i^rivate  expense  was 
incurred  in  efforts  to  control  it.     The  Xew  Bern  Journal  says: 

".Several  hundred  men  have  been  rushed  to  the  scene  by  the  Richmond 
Cedar  Works.  John  L.  Roper  Company,  and  Camp  Manufacturing  Company, 
principal  owners  of  the  timber  in  the  forest  tract,  to  light  the  spread  of  the 
lire.  All  operations  in  near-by  camps  were  susi>ended  by  the  Cedar  Works 
Company  yesterday  and  150  men  rushed  to  the  lire  on  special  trains." 

It  seems  safe  to  assume,  from  all  indications,  that  the  people  are 
rapidly  becoming  more  actively  opposed  to  forest  fires,  and  that  their 
changed  attitude  is  already  having  some  effect.  Yet  there  is  much  to  be 
done  by  Worth  Carolinians,  both  as  private  landowners  and  as  citizens 
of  a  sovereign  State.  In  the  former  role  there  is  a  large  field  of  useful- 
ness in  the  practice  of  cooperative  fire  protection,  Avhile  in  the  latter 
capacity  one  of  the  first  duties  is  to  spread  a  knoAvlcdge  of  and  respect 
for  the  State  forestry  laws. 

ORGANIZED   FIRE    PROTECTION. 

That  organized  fire  protection,  whether  private,  as  was  recently  prac- 
ticed on  the  Biltmore  estate,  or  cooperative,  as  is  now  being  worked  out 
in  Virginia,  Kentucky,  and  other  States,  or  governmental,  L  e..  State 
and  Federal,  can  be  successfully  practiced  in  ]!^orth  Carolina  is  being 
demonstrated  afresh  on  and  near  the  National  Forests  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State.  ISlot  only  have  the  local  forest  officers  extinguished 
many  fires  on  the  lands  under  their  cluiriie,  but  they  have  fought  fires  on 
surrounding  lands  Avitli  tlie  primary  object  of  preventing  their  spread  to 
the  jSTational  Forests. 

Two  extracts  taken  fi-oni  the  State  press  show  the  importance  of  hav- 
ing experienced  men  in  the  neighborhood  who  can  organize  and  lead  fire- 
fighting  forces,  who  know  exactly  Avhat  to  do,  and  have  the  authority  to 
go  ahead  and  do  it.  Speaking  of  a  Buncombe  County  fire,  occurring  in 
Jaiuiai-y,  one  newspaper  says: 

"The  fire  started  near  midnight  Friday  night  and  had  gained  great  headway 
before  the  alarm  was  si)read  and  the  corps  was  organized  to  tight  it.  All  the 
aviiil;il)l('  men  in  tlic  Md.JMccnt   tcrritoi-y  were  organized  niidei-  the  direction  of 


FOEEST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 


15 


United  States  Fore.ster  Young  and  scattered  over  the  district  threatened  by 
the  leaping  flames.  Fighting  with  grim  determination  and  never  giving  up 
hope  for  a  single  moment,  this  force  finally  confined  the  spreading  flames  in  a 
certain  area,  although  at  times  in  the  early  morning  it  seemed  that  every  resi- 
dence in  a  radius  of  several  miles  would  be  destroyed." 

Of  a  Xovember  fire  in  the  same  region,  another  newspaper  says : 

"Forest  fires  which  have  been  raging  in  various  sections  of  the  mountains 
around  Black  Mountain  during  the  greater  part  of  the  week  are  reported  to 
have  done  considerable  damage,  the  greater  number  of  the  outbreaks  being  re- 
ported from  the  Craggy  Mountains.  For  a  while  fear  was  entertained  that 
the  flames  would  get  on  the  immense  watershed  holdings  of  the  city  of  Ashe- 
ville.  but  reports  from  the  intake  are  to  the  effect  that  but  little  damage 
has  been  suffered  by  the  municipality.  Mr.  Bishop  of  Marion,  representing 
the  Government,  is  in  charge  of  a  force  of  100  men  in  the  Bee  Tree  section, 
and  back-firing  has  been  resorted  to  in  checking  flames." 

RESULTS    OF    FEDERAL   PROTECTIOX    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 

A  Striking  tribute  to  the  value  of  organized  fire  protection  is  brought 
out  by  some  figures  in  Table  6.  It  is  seen  that  the  average  area  burnt 
over  by  each  fire  in  the  mountain  region  during  the  past  year  was  exactly 
half  the  average  for  the  past  six  years,  while  in  the  other  regions  of  the 
State  there  has  been  only  a  comparatively  small  reduction.  The  only 
way  to  account  for  this  is  that  the  assistance  and  example  of  the  Federal 
forest  officers  have  had  a  decided  eft'ect  in  reducing  the  amount  of  burnt 
land  areas. 

This  explanation  is  supported  by  the  figures  compiled  by  the  forest 
officers  themselves : 


Table  8.— FORE.ST  FIRES  IN  THE  SOUTHERN  APPALACHIAN  PURCHASE 
AREAS  IN  NORTH  CAROLINA,  1914. 


1 

1 

Area  of 
Forest. 

Number 

1         1 

i    i 

s          - 

OP  Fir 

1 

ES. 

Location. 

National 
Forest  L.^nds. 

Name  of  Forest. 

Fires  Ori 

Inside 
Forest. 

pnating—      1 

Outside 
Forest. 

Area  Burned  Over. 

Value  of  Tim  1km- 
Destroyed. 

.| 

1 

On  National 

Forest 

Lands. 

On  Private 
Lands. 

1^ 

II 

°  o 

Mount  Mitchell 

Pisgah 

.       66,213 
86,700 
36,973 

.       34,808 

4 

6 

11 

I 

21          5   

1 

15 

372     .$  36 

$  169 

Nantahala 

Savannah  (N) 

1 

10 

1 

]' 

22 

2 

7 

15  1 

1    

1 

Totals ;    224,694 


16  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 

The  above  table  was  prepared  from  the  Federal  Forest  Examiners' 
annual  reports.  It  shows  the  number  of  fires  of  different  classes  occur- 
ring within  the  Federal  Purchase  Areas  in  1914  and  the  amount  of 
Xational  forest  land  burnt  over. 

It  will  be  seen  that  only  six  fires  occurred  on  the  Xational  Forest  lauds 
in  Xorth  Carolina.  The  rest  probably  threatened  the  GoA^ernment  lands, 
but  were  extinguished  before  they  crossed  onto  them.  These  six  fires 
burnt  over  only  372  acres,  or  an  average  area  for  each  fire  of  62  acres. 

RESULTS  OF  PARTIAL  PROTECTIOX. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  the  Federal  Forest  officials  in  western 
Xorth  Carolina  accurate  information  in  regard  to  forest  fires  in  twenty 
townships  or  parts  of  townships  surrounding  the  JSTational  Forests  was 
supplied  and  it  is  incorporated  with  all  the  foregoing  tables  except  the 
last.  Because  of  the  comparative  completeness  of  this  information,  and 
in  view  of  the  fact  that  efficient  fire  protection  was  practiced  over  parts 
of  the  townships  in  question,  these  auxiliary  reports  have  also  been  com- 
piled by  themselves  to  show  the  result  of  partial  fire  protection. 

The  Government  lands  lying  within  these  townships  are  thoroughly 
j)atrolled,  and  only  six  fires  occurred  on  them,  as  shown  in  Table  8.  Pri- 
vate land  within  the  !N"ational  Forests  or  outside  the  forests  but  within 
the  purchase  area5,  namely,  within  the  limits  set  by  the  Government 
for  making  further  additions  to  the  National  Forests,  are  not  patrolled, 
but  forest  officers  usually  assist  in  extinguishing  fires,  especially  if  Fed- 
eral lands,  or  lands  which  have  been  offered  to  the  Government,  are 
threatened.  There  were  thirty-nine  such  fires  reported  in  1914.  The 
remaining  thirty-five  fires  included  in  Table  9  probably  occurred  beyond 
the  Government  rangers'  field  of  duty,  and  so  were  extinguished  in  the 
ordinary  way,  namely,  b}^  private  citizens,  by  rain,  or  by  burning  them- 
selves out.  The  following  table,  therefore,  shows  the  results  of  partial 
protection  in  the  comparison  of  these  figures  Avith  the  average  ones  for 
the  mountain  region  found  in  Table  6. 

Table  9.-GENERAL  FIRE  DAMAGE  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS  DURING  THE  PAST  SIX  YEARS 
COMPARED  WITH  THAT  IN  PARTIALLY  PROTECTED  TOWNSHIPS. 


In  Townships 

and  Parts  of 

Townships 

Partially 

Protected, 

1914. 

In  the  Moun- 
tain Counties 

as  a  Whole. 

Average  for 
the  Past 

Six  Years. 

Average  area  of  each  fire,  acres - 

148 

898 

Average  damage  by  each  fire $  514.00     S  1,112.00 

Average  damage  per  acre  burnt - 3.46  1.50 

Average  cost  of  fighting  fires,  per  fire 11.00  35.00 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA.  17 

From  the  above  table  it  can  be  seen  that  the  average  fire,  where  only 
partial  protection  ^vas  given,  was  one-sixth  the  size  of  the  average  fire 
of  the  region,  or  a  saving  in  the  eighty  fires  reported  by  the  forest  officers 
of  60,000  acres  not  burnt  over.  At  an  average  damage  of  $1.50  per  acre, 
this  means  an  actual  saving  of  $90,000. 

The  saving  in  cost  of  fighting  fires  is  just  as  startling.  While  it  is 
often  said  that  fire  fighting  is  now  done  voluntarily  in  iSTorth  Carolina, 
the  average  cost  to  fight  fires  in  the  mountains  is  $35  per  fire,  borne  by 
landowners  and  private  individuals.  In  this  partially  protected  area 
under  discussion  the  cost  to  private  owners  and  the  Government  com- 
bined has  been  reduced  to  $11  per  fire.  This  seems  to  be  indisputable 
evidence  that  organized  fire  protection  will  and  does  pay. 


FORESTRY  LAMS  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.^ 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1915  enacted  more  legislation  for  the  con- 
servation of  our  natural  resources  than  any  previous  one  in  the  history 
of  the  State.  The  eastern  fisheries,  part  of  which  had  been  protected, 
but  the  greater  part  exploited  almost  without  restriction,  were  all  put 
under  a  State-wide  Fisheries  Commission.  This  law  ought  to  insure  the 
growth  of  our  fishing  industry  which  for  a  long  while  has  been  steadily 
declining.  The  Highway  Commission  bill,  though  not,  strictly  speak- 
ing, a  conservation  measure,  is  one  of  the  most  complete  and  effective 
laws  for  the  encouragement  and  construction  of  good  roads  now  in  force 
in  the  South ;  and  good  roads  are  so  closely  connected  with  consen'ation 
that  it  is  difficult  to  separate  them. 

The  new  laws  connected  with  forest  consen'ation,  though  not  as  com- 
plete and  effective  as  the  tw^o  already  mentioned,  because  unsupported 
by  any  appropriation,  cover,  however,  a  wider  field,  and  definitely  com- 
mit the  State  to  two  policies,  new  in  I^orth  Carolina,  though  well  tried 
and  permanent  in  many  other  States  of  the  Union.  These  policies  are : 
(a)  State  protection  of  the  private  as  well  as  public  forest  lands  of  the 
State  from  fire,  in  the  same  way  that  cities  and  towns  provide  for  the 
protection  of  the  property  of  their  citizens;  (h)  the  purchase  and  ad- 
ministration of  forest  land  by  the  State  for  the  purposes  of  demonstra- 
tion and  experiment,  for  the  recreation,  health,  and  pleasure  of  its  citi- 
zens, and  for  the  protection  of  its  streams. 

In  order  that  a  clear  understanding  may  be  had  of  the  administration 
of  the  new  forest  fire  law  and  the  "State  forest"  law,  the  enforcement  of 
which  is  intrusted  to  the  State  Geological  Board,  the  law  creating  this 
board  is  here  introduced. 

THE   STATE   GEOLOGICAL   BOARD. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1905  reorganized  the  State  Geological  Sur- 
vey, enlarging  its  scope  and  changing  its  name  to  the  State  Geological 
and  Economic  Survey.  At  the  same  time  the  Survey.  Avas  given  addi- 
tional powers  and  duties  to  those  it  already  possessed  dealing  Avith  the 
investigation  and  development  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  State. 


*Spe  Press  Bulletin  No.  147,  N.  C.  Gcol.  aud  Eoon.  Survey,  "Forestry  Laws  of  North 
Carolina." 


FOREST    FIRES    lA'    NORTH    CAROLINA.  19 

LAW    CREATING    THE    NORTH    CAROLINA    GEOLOGICAL    AND    ECONOMIC    SURVEY.* 

Section  4429.  State  Geologist  appointed  hy  Governor.  The  Governor  shall 
appoint  a  suitable  person  as  State  Geologist  to  conduct,  under  the  supervision 
of  a  board  of  managers  to  be  known  as  the  Geological  Board,  a  geological  and 
economic  survej-  of  the  State. 

Sec.  4430.  Geological  Board,  how  appointed;  meetings.  The  Geological 
Board  shall  consist  of  the  Governor  (as  chairman),  four  citizens  of  the  State, 
two  for  a  period  of  two  years  and  two  for  a  period  of  four  j-ears  from  March 
1,  1905,  the  same  to  be  appointed  by  the  Governor  by  and  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  Senate,  and  their  successors  to  be  in  like  manner  appointed 
each  for  a  period  of  four  years.  In  case  of  the  death  or  resignation  of  either 
of  said  citizens,  his  successor  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Governor.  The  Geo- 
logical Board  shall  meet  twice  each  year,  once  in  January  and  once  in  June, 
in  the  city  of  Raleigh,  on  the  call  of  the  Governor,  except  that  the  board  may 
change  the  time  and  place  of  meeting  as  circumstances  may  require. 

Sec.  44.31.  Experts  and  assistants.  The  State  Geologist  shall  appoint,  sub- 
ject to  the  approval  of  the  Geological  Board,  such  experts  and  assistants  as 
may  be  found  necessary  to  enable  him  to  carry  out  successfully  and  speedily 
the  work  of  the  Survey. 

Sec  4432.    Objects  of  Surveg.     The  Survey  shall  have  for  its  objects : 

1.  An  examination  of  the  mineral,  forest,  fishery,  and  other  material  re- 
sources of  the  State. 

2.  An  examination  of  the  geological  formations  of  the  State  with  reference 
to  their  economic  products. 

3.  An  examination  of  the  road-building  materials  and  the  best  methods  of 
utilizing  the  same. 

4.  An  examination  and  classification  of  the  soils,  the  forests,  and  other  phys- 
ical features  of  the  State,  with  special  reference  to  their  bearing  upon  the 
occupation  of  the  people. 

5.  An  examination  of  the  streams  and  water-powers  of  the  State,  with 
special  reference  to  the  development  for  manufacturing  enterprises  and  the 
preservation  of  the  sources  of  these  streams  through  the  protection  of  the 
forests. 

6.  The  consideration  of  such  other  scientific  and  economic  problems  as  in 
the  judgment  of  the  Geological  Board  shall  be  deemed  of  value  to  the  people 
of  the  State. 

7.  The  preparation  of  such  reports,  illustrations,  and  maps  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary  in  placing  the  results  of  these  investigations  before  the  public. 

8.  And  the  State  Geologist,  with  the  approval  of  the  Geological  Board,  is 
hereby  authorized  to  arrange  for  and  accept  such  aid  and  cooperation  from 
the  several  United  States  Government  bureaus  and  other  sources  as  may  assist 
in  completing  the  topographic  surveys  of  the  State  and  in  carrying  out  other 
provisions  of  this  chapter. 

9.  An  examination  of  the  water  supplies  of  the  State,  with  special  reference 
to  the  sinking  of  deep  or  artesian  wells. 

Sec.  4433.  Reports.  The  Geological  Board  shall  cause  to  be  prepared  and 
submitted  to  each  Legislature  a  report  showing  the  progress  and  expenditures 


'Chapter  94,  Revisal  of  1005. 


20  fokp:st  fires  ix   nokth  cauoi.i.xa. 

of  the  Survey ;  it  shall  also  cause  to  be  prepared  for  publication  such  other 
reports,  with  necessary  illustrations  and  maps,  as  will  ade(iuately  set  forth 
the  geology  and  material  resources  of  the  State,  all  such  reports,  illustrations, 
and  maps  to  be  printed  and  distributed  as  the  Geological  Board  may  direct 
in  editions  of  ."J.OOO  copies  cadi  at  the  expense  of  the  State  as  other  public 
documents. 

Sec.  4434.  Appropriation.  The  sum  of  $10,000  annu.iUy.  or  so  much  thereof 
as  may  be  necessary,  is  hereby  appropriated  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  Treasury 
not  otherwise  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  carryiiii:  out  tlie  provisions  of 
this  chapter. 

Soon  after  the  passage  of  this  hiw  and  the  general  reorganization  of 
the  Survey  by  the  new  State  Geologist,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  three  im- 
portant divisions,  /.  e.,  the  Highway,  the  Fisheries,  and  the  Forestry 
divisions,  were  made ;  other  interests  of  the  Survey,  such  as  the  geologi- 
cal and  mining  work,  were  not  delegated  to  any  particular  division. 

The  Highway  Division  has  organized  and  pushed  the  good  roads  move- 
ment in  this  State  by  holding  meetings,  furnishing  speakers  in  support 
of  local  road  bond  issues,  and  founding  and  assisting  the  North  Carolina 
Good  Roads  Association.  It  has  administered  and  carried  out  the  pro- 
visions of  the  highway  assistance  law  (chapter  915,  Public  Laws  1909) 
which  enables  the  Geological  Board  "to  advise  with  the  .township  and 
county  authorities  in  the  building  and  improvement  of  the  public  roads, 
by  sending  to  the  tOAViiship  or  county  a  competent  road  engineer,  who 
■will  assist  them  in  locating  their  improved  roads,  advise  them,"  etc. 

The  Fisheries  Division  has  supervised  the  administration  of  the  old 
fish,  commission  law  (chapter  977,  Public  Laws  1907),  which  protected 
the  northern  part  of  Pamlico  Sound  and  the  inner  waters  of  Albemarle 
Sound.  It  has  consistently  urged  the  extension  of  this  law  to  the  whole 
coast,  which,  owing  to  its  unceasing  efforts,  has  just  been  accomplished. 

The  Forestry  Division,  which  was  regularly  organized  in  1908,  has 
examined  and  reported  on  the  forests  of  the  State,  studied  the  forest  fire 
question,  and  continuously  urged  forest  fire  legislation,  and  has  effect- 
ively aided  in  the  organization  and  support  of  the  Xorth  Carolina  For- 
estry Association.  It  has  taken  part  in  meetings,  has  issued  publications 
and  statements  to  the  press,  and  carried  on  general  propaganda  work. 
It  has  at  several  different  times  received  the  cooperation  of  th(>  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture  in  investigative  forestry  woi-k. 

It  seems,  therefore,  only  natural  and  appropriate  that  the  administra- 
tion of  the  forestry  law,  which  has  for  eight  or  ten  years  been  unceas- 
ingly advocated  by  the  Survey  and  the  need  for  which  has  been  set  forth 
in  most  of  its  forestry  publications,  should  be  committed  to  it.  Tlie 
Forester  of  the  Survev  is  the  onlv  technical  forester  eninlovcd  bv  tlie 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA.  21 

State.     He  is  in  close  touch  with  all  the  forestry  work,  and  especially 
Avith  the  forest  fire  conditions  over  the  State,  as  no  other  man  can  he. 

It  has  always  been  the  custom  for  the  Governor  to  appoint  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Geological  Board  without  any  special  reference  to  their  politi- 
cal affiliation,  but  because  of  their  ability  and  their  knowledge  of  condi- 
tions with  which  they  have  to  deal.  The  State  Geologist  is  likewise 
api^ointed  with  the  one  idea  of  his  fitness  for  the  position,  and  the  em- 
ployees of  the  Survey  are  employed  in  like  manner.  The  State  Geologi- 
cal and  Economic  Survey  is  therefore  known  as  a  nonpolitical  organiza- 
tion, and  for  this  reason  is  especially  suited  for  carrying  on  work  of  a 
technical  character,  which,  as  all  experts  agree,  must  for  its  fullest  effi- 
ciency be  absolutely  divorced  from  politics. 

LAWS   FOR  THE   PROTECTION   OF  THE    FORESTS   FROM    FIRE. 

Xorth  Carolina  is  said  to  have  had  the  first  law  against  setting  fire  to 
woods  of  any  State  in  the  Union.  Certain  it  is  that  in  1777  "at  a  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  begun  and  held  at  IS^ew  Bern,  on  the  Eighth  Day  of  April 
in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
seven,  and  in  the  Eirst  Year  of  the  Independence  of  the  said  State :  Be- 
ing the  first  session  of  this  Assembly,"  Richard  Caswell,  Esq.,  being 
Governor,  a  law  was  passed  to  prevent  burning  the  woods. 

This  law,  here  quoted  in  full  from  The  State  Records  of  jSTorth  Caro- 
lina, vol.  24,  has  remained  in  force  up  to  the  present  year  with  the  ex- 
ception of  those  changes  made  necessary  by  the  freeing  of  the  slaves  and 
by  the  passing  of  the  whipping-post.  This  latter  institution  might  even 
yet  be  found  an  effective  method  of  dealing  Avith  "vagrant  persons." 

THE    LAW   OF   1777. 
AN  ACT  TO  PREVENT  BURNING  THE  WOODS. 

I.  Whereas  the  frequent  burning  of  the  Woods  is  found  to  be  destructive 
to  Cattle  and  Hogs,  extremely  prejudicial  to  the  Soil,  and  oftentimes  of  fatal 
Consequences  to  Planters  and  Farmers,  by  destroying  their  Fences  and  other 
Improvements  :    For  Prevention  of  wliich  Evils, 

II.  Be  it  Enacted  by  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
and  it  is  hereby  Enacted  by  the  Authority  of  the  same.  That  it  shall  not  be 
lawful  for  any  Person  whatsoever  to  set  Fire  to  any  Woods  except  it  be  his 
own  Property,  and  in  that  Case  it  shall  not  be  lawful  for  him  to  set  Fire  to 
his  own  Woods,  without  first  giving  Notice  to  all  Persons  owning  Lands  adja- 
cent to  such  Wood  Lands  intended  to  be  fired  at  least  Two  Days  before  the 
time  of  setting  such  Woods  on  Fire,  and  also  taking  effectual  Care  to  extin- 
guish such  Fire  before  it  shall  reach  any  vacant  or  patented  Lands,  contiguous 
to  or  adjacent  such  Lands  so  fired. 

4 


^2  FOREST    FIRKS    IX    XOKTH    CAROLIXA. 

III.  A)id  he  it  further  Enacted,  hy  the  Authoritu  afnrcstiid.  Th;it  every  Per- 
son offeudiug  against  this  Act  shall  forfeit  aud  pay  the  sum  of  Ton  Pounds, 
to  be  recovered  by  Action  of  Debt,  Bill.  Plaint  or  Information,  to  the  Use  of 
the  Person  who  shall  sue  or  prosecute  for  the  same ;  and  shall  also  he  further 
liable  to  the  Party  injured  ])y  such  unlawful  llrin;,'  of  the  Woods,  for  all  dam- 
ages that  may  accrue  therefrom. 

IV.  And  he  it  further  Enacted,  hi/  the  Authority  aforesaid,  That  if  any 
Slave,  Free  Negro  or  Mulatto,  or  vagrant  Person,  unable  to  pay  the  fine  afore- 
said, shall  be  convicted  of  setting  fire  to  any  Woods,  contrary  to  the  true 
Meaning  of  this  Act,  such  Person,  on  Conviction  thereof,  shall  have  and  re- 
ceive on  his  bare  back  Thirty  Nine  Lashes,  well  laid  on.  at  the  Public  Whii>- 
ping-Post. 

Hon.  Francis  B.  Winston,  in  his  recent  iuidress  before  the  Xorth  Caro- 
lina Piue  Association,  in  speaking  of  the  work  of  the  ISTorth  Carolina 
Forestry  Association,  eni])hasized  the  fact  that  this  law  was  not  enacted 
for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  forests,  but  of  preventing  injury  to  live 
stock  ranging  in  the  vast  areas  of  then  unowned  and  unoccupied  land. 
He  says: 

"Not  a  word  is  said  about  the  destruction  of  timber  by  fires.  A  century 
and  a  half  ago  our  ancestors  were  enacting  laws  against  the  destruction  of 
hogs  in  the  woods  by  fires.  Today  the  North  Carolina  Forestry  Association 
is  seeking  enactments  to  protect  the  woods  from  the  hogs  by  a  general  stock 
law.  Our  association  recognizes  that  a  year's  supply  of  timber  on  the  farm 
is  as  necessary  as  the  year's  supi>ly  of  corn  and  meat.  We  are  seeking  to 
convince  the  people  who  own  lands  that  in  the  place  of  every  tree  removed 
for  any  cause  a  new  tree  should  be  planted.  We  hayo  in  view  the  establish- 
ment of  experimental  forestry  farms  about  the  State.  The  North  Carolina 
Geological  and  Kcdjiomic  Survey  is  fostering  this  work." 

In  1885  a  law  forbidding  wagoners  and  other  campers  to  leave  their 
camp-fires  without  totally  extinguishing  them  was  ])assed.  There  has 
been,  however,  no  very  general  enforcement  of  either  of  those  laws, 
though  there  have  been  no  others  covering  what  we  now  consider  these 
very  serious  offenses.  The.se  two  laws  (sections  3346  and  3347,  Revisal 
of  1905)  have  noAv  largely  been  incorporated  in  the  now  forest  fire  Liav, 
in  slightly  amended  form. 

MORE   RKCEXT   ATTEMPTS   TO    SECURE   EFFECTIVE   LAWS. 

In  1909  an  effort  was  made  to  obtain  increased  protection  for  our 
mountain  forests  by  the  passage  of  a  law  (chapter  89,  Public  Laws  1909) 
which  allows  "any  owner  or  owners  of  Avooded  land  situated  in  North 
Carolina  above  contour  line  2,000  feet"  to  apply  to  the  Governor  for  the 
establishment  of  such  land  as  a  "State  forest."    Tlie  owners  pledge  them- 


FOREST    FIRES    I^^    IS^OETH    CAROLIXA.  23 

selves  to  cut  the  timber  conservatively,  and  to  pay  annually  one-half 
cent  for  each  acre  of  such  proposed  State  forest  into  the  county  school 
fund.  In  return  for  this  the  rangers  employed  by  the  landowner  are  to 
be  appointed  State  forest  wardens,  with  power  to  arrest  without  warrant 
violators  of  the  State  laws  relating  to  the  care  of  forests.  The  owners 
of  the  land  which  is  thus  proclaimed  a  State  forest  must,  of  course,  pay 
the  salary  and  expenses  of  their  own  wardens.  This  law,  which  requires 
a  man,  in  addition  to  bearing  all  the  costs  of  fire  protection,  to  pay  out 
half  a  cent  an  acre  for  all  the  land  protected,  none  of  which  is  used  for 
fire  protection,  is  so  manifestly  one-sided  that  no  advantage  has  yet  been 
taken  of  it,  and  probably  none  ever  will  be.  In  contrast  with  this,  forest 
fire  protective  associations  are  now  being  organized  in  several  of  the 
Appalachian  States  whose  maximum  annual  assessment  is  only  half  a 
cent  an  acre.  For  this  amount  the  lands  are  being  successfully  protected 
against  fire. 

There  have  been  many  other  attempts,  both  before  and  since,  to  secure 
more  adequate  State  assistance  in  the  prevention  and  extinguishment  of 
forest  fires.  As  early  as  1887,  Hon.  Francis  D.  Winston  reminds  us,  he 
himself  introduced  a  bill  for  this  purpose  into  the  State  Senate,  but  it 
did  not  get  out  of  the  committee.  At  each  regular  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature for  the  past  eight  years  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Sur- 
vey has  proposed  and  urged  the  passage  of  definite  legislation  to  reduce 
the  enormous  annual  loss  by  forest  fires,  but  with  no  definite  result.  The 
public  demand  throughout  the  State  has  not  been  strong  enough  to  over- 
come the  natural  reluctance  of  such  a  conseiwative  body  as  the  General 
Assembly  to  enact  restrictive  laws. 

But  year  by  year,  as  the  annual  loss  from  fires  has  become  better 
known  and  appreciated,  the  demand  for  protection  has  become  more  in- 
sistent, until  the  Legislature  of  1915  responded  by  the  enactment  of  an 
excellent  law,  though  without  appropriation. 

A  law  to  meet  certain  particular  cases,  where  logging  was  being  done 
on  land  adjoining  city  watersheds,  was  passed  two  years  ago.*  Though 
fairly  effective  in  the  cases  to  which  it  applies,  this  law,  it  is  thought,  has 
not  yet  been  invoked.  It  can  probably  be  effectively  enforced,  however, 
•in  connection  with  the  new  forest  fire  law. 

In  the  following  pages  the  forestry  laws  of  the  State  are  given,  each 
accompanied  by  comments  explaining  the  objects  and  operations  of  the 
law. 


24  FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

THE   NEW   FOREST   FIRE   LAW.* 

AX  ACT  TO  PROTECT  THE  FOKESTS  OF  THE  STATE  FROM  FIRE. 

The  General  Asscmhly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  State  Geological  Board  may  take  such  action  as  it 
may  deem  necessary  to  provide  for  the  prevention  and  control  of  forest  tires 
in  any  and  all  parts  of  this  State,  #nd  it  is  hereby  authorized  to  enter  into  an 
agreement  with  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  of  the  United  States  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  forested  watersheds  of  streams  in  this  State. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  forester  of  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  who 
shall  be  called  State  Forester,  and  shall  be  ex  officio  State  Forest  Warden, 
may  appoint,  with  the  approval  of  the  Geological  Board,  one  township  forest 
warden  and  one  or  more  district  forest  wardens  in  each  township  of  the  State 
in  which  the  amount  of  forest  land  and  the  risks  from  forest  tires  shall,  in  his 
judgment,  make  it  advisable  and  necessary. 

Sec  3.  The  State  Forester,  as  State  Forest  Warden,  shall  have  supervision 
of  township  and  district  forest  wardens,  shall  instruct  them  in  their  duties, 
issue  such  regulations  and  instructions  to  the  township  and  district  forest 
wardens  as  he  may  deem  necessary  for  the  purposes  of  this  act,  and  cause 
violations  of  the  laws  regarding  forest  fires  to  be  prosecuted. 

Sec.  4.  Forest  wardens  shall  have  charge  of  measures  for  controlling  forest 
fires;  shall  make  arrests  for  violation  of  forest  laws;  shall  post  along  high- 
ways and  in  other  conspicuous  places,  copies  of  the  forest  fire  laws  and  warn- 
ings against  fires,  which  shall  be  supplied  by  the  State  Forester;  shall  patrol 
during  dry  and  dangerous  seasons  under  the  direction  of  the  State  Forester, 
and  shall  perform  such  other  acts  and  duties  as  shall  be  considered  necessary 
by  the  State  Forester  for  the  protection  of  the  forests  from  fire.  The  town- 
ship forest  warden  of  the  township  in  which  a  fire  occurs  shall  within  ten 
days  make  such  a  report  thereof  to  the  State  Forester  as  may  be  prescribed 
by  him.  The  township  forest  warden  of  the  township  in  which  a  fire  occurs 
.shall  within  ten  days  make  such  a  report  thereof  to  the  State  Forester  as  may 
be  prescribed  by  him.  Each  district  forest  warden  shall  promptly  report  to 
township  wardens  any  fire  in  his  district. 

Sec.  5.  Any  i^erson  who  shall  maliciously  or  willfully  destroy,  deface,  re- 
move, or  disfigure  any  sign,  poster,  or  warning  notice,  posted  by  order'  of  the 
State  Forester,  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  or  any  other  act  which  may 
be  passed  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the  forests  in  this  State  from  fire, 
shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  punishable  by 
a  fine  of  not  less  than  $10  nor  more  than  $.^0.  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding 
thirty  daj'S. 

Sec  G.  Forest  wardens  shall  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires  in  their 
respective  townships  and  enforce  all  statutes  of  this  State  now  in  force  or  that 
hereafter  may  be  enacted  for  the  protection  of  forests  and  woodlands  from 
fire,  and  they  shall  have  control  and  direction  of  all  persons  and  apparatus 
while  engaged  in  extinguishing  forest  fires.  Any  forest  warden  may  arrest, 
without  a  warrant,  any  person  or  persons  taken  by  him  in  the  act  of  violating 
any  of  the  said  laws  for  the  protection  of  forests  and  woodlands,  and  bring 

♦Chapter  243,  Public  Laws  1015.     Sec  Tress  BuU.  147.  N.  C.  Gool.  and  Econ.  Survev. 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    NORTH    CAROLI^-A.  25 

such  person  or  persons  forthwith  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  or  other  officer 
having  jurisdiction,  who  shall  proceed  without  delay  to  hear,  try,  and  deter- 
mine the  matter.  During  a  season  of  drought  the  State  Forester  may  estab- 
lish a  fire  patrol  in  any  township,  and  in  case  of  fire  in  or  threatening  any 
forest  or  woodland  the  township  or  district  forest  warden  shall  attend  forth- 
with and  use  all  necessary  means  to  confine  and  extinguish  such  fire.  The 
said  forest  warden  may  summon  any  male  resident  of  the  township  between 
the  ages  of  18  and  45  years  to  assist  in  extinguishing  fires,  and  may  require 
the  use  of  horses  and  other  property  needed  for  such  purpose ;  any  person  so 
summoned,  and  who  is  physically  able,  who  refuses  or  neglects  to  assist  or  to 
allow  the  use  of  horses,  wagons,  or  other  material  required,  shall  be  liable  to 
a  penalty  of  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $50.  No  action  for  trespass  shall 
lie  against  any  forest  warden  or  person  summoned  by  him  for  crossing  or 
\\orking  upon  lands  of  another  in  connection  with  his  duties  as  forest  warden. 
Sec.  7.  Forest  wardens  shall  receive  compensation  from  the  Geological 
Board  at  a  rate  of  not  to  exceed  20  cents  per  hour  for  the  time  actually  en- 
gaged in  the  performance  of  their  duties ;  and  reasonable  expenses  for  equip- 
ment, transportation,  or  food  supplies  incurred  in  fighting  or  extinguishing 
any  fire,  according  to  an  itemized  statement  to  be  rendered  the  State  Forester 
every  month,  and  approved  by  him.  Forest  wardens  shall  render  to  the  State 
Forester  a  statement  of  the  services  rendered  by  the  men  employed  by  them 
or  their  district  wardens,  as  provided  in  this  act,  within  one  month  of  the 
date  of  service,  which  said  bill  shall  show  in  detail  the  amount  and  character 
of  the  service  performed,  the  exact  duration  thereof,  the  name  of  each  person 
employed,  and  any  other  information  required  by  the  State  Forester.  All 
accounts  of  the  forest  wardens  must  be  duly  sworn  to  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  notary  public,  or  other  oflSicer  qualified  to  witness  such  papers  within 
the  county  in  which  the  expenses  were  incurred.  If  said  bill  be  duly  approved 
by  the  State  Forester,  it  shall  be  paid  by  direction  of  the  Geological  Board  out 
of  the  funds  hereinafter  provided  for. 

Sec.  8.  If  any  person  shall  intentionally  set  fire  to  any  grass  land,  brush 
land,  or  woodland,  except  it  be  his  own  property,  or  in  that  case  without  first 
giving  notice  to  all  persons  owning  or  in  charge  of  lauds  adjoining  the  land 
intended  to  be  fired,  and  also  taking  care  to  watch  such  fire  while  burning  and 
taking  effectual  care  to  extinguish  such  fire  before  it  shall  reach  any  lands 
near  to  or  adjoining  the  lands  so  fired,  he  shall  for  every  such  offense  be  guilty 
of  a  misdemeanor  and  shall  be  fined  not  less  than  .$10  nor  more  than  $50,  or 
imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  This  shall  not  prevent  action  for  dam- 
ages sustained  by  the  owner  of  any  property  from  such  fires. 

Sec.  9.  Any  wagoner,  hunter,  camper,  or  other  person  who  shall  kindle  a 
camp-fire  or  shall  authorize  another  to  kindle  such  fire,  unless  all  combustible 
material  for  the  space  of  10  feet  surrounding  the  place  where  said  fire  is 
kindled  has  been  removed,  or  shall  leave  a  cami>flre  without  fully  extinguish- 
ing it,  or  who  shall  accidentally  or  negligently  by  the  use  of  any  torch,  gun, 
match,  or  other  instrumentality,  or  in  any  manner  whatever  start  any  fire 
upon  any  grass  land,  brush  land,  or  woodland  without  fully  extinguishing  the 
same,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  punished 
by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $10  nor  more  than  $50,  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding 
thirty  days. 


Zb  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 

Sec.  10.  All  persons,  firms,  or  corporations  who  shall  burn  any  tar  kiln  or 
pit  of  charcoal  or  set  fire  to  or  burn  any  brush,  grass,  or  other  material, 
whereby  any  proix?rty  may  be  endangered  or  destroyed  shall  keep  and  main- 
tjain  a  careful  and  competent  watchman  in  charge  of  said  kiln,  pit,  brush,  or 
other  material  while  burning.  Any  person,  firm,  or  corporation  violating  the 
provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  punishable  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $10  nor 
more  than  $50,  or  imprisoned  not  exceeding  thirty  days.  Fire  escaping  from 
such  kiln,  pit,  brush,  or  other  material  while  burning  shall  be  prhna  facie  evi- 
dence of  neglect  of  these  provisions. 

Sec  11.  For  the  purposes  of  this  act  woodland  is  taken  to  include  all  forest 
areas,  both  timber  and  cut-over  land,  and  all  second-growth  stands  on  areas 
that  have  at  one  time  been  cultivated. 

Sec.  12.  All  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  this  act  are  hereby 
repealed. 

Sec  13.   This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  9th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1915. 

Administration. 

By  placing  the  administration  of  the  forest  fire  law  with  an  already 
existing  office  of  the  State  Government  the  tedious  and  often  difficult 
task  of  bringing  together  a  new  organization  has  been  obviated.  In  view 
of  the  fact  that  no  appropriation  accompanies  the  new  law^,  this  pro- 
vision is  shown  to  be  a  wise  and  statesman-like  action.  The  State  Geo- 
logical and  Economic  Survey,  which  unfortunately  yet  has  only  a  small 
appropriation  for  its  support,  is  enabled  to  spend  as  much  as  can  be 
spared  of  its  appropriation  for  the  carrying  out  of  the  provisions  of  the 
IsLW.  In  the  actual  w-ork  of  fire  prevention  and  extinguishment  very 
little  can  be  done  without  an  appropriation,  but  along  other  lines  the 
Survey  has  already  taken  active  steps,  chiefly  toward  informing  the  pub- 
lic as  to  what  the  law  is  and  in  what  ways  it  should  be  observed. 

Cooperation. 

•  The  latter  half  of  section  1  contemplates  a  cooperative  agreement  with 
the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  under  the  Weeks  la"\v, 
■whereby  the  State  can  receive  very  material  assistance  in  the  prevention 
of  fires.     Section  2  of  the  Weeks  law*  reads  as  follows : 

Sec.  2.  That  the  sum  of  $200,000  is  hereby  appropriated  and  made  available 
until  expended,  out  of  any  moneys  in  the  National  Treasury  not  otherwise 
appropriated,  to  enable  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  to  cooperate  with  any 
State  or  group  of  States,  when  requested  to  do  so,  in  the  protection  from  fire 
of  the  forested  watersheds  of  navigable  streams ;  and  the  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture is  herelty  authorized,  and  on  such  conditions  as  he  deems  wise,  to 
stipulate  and  agree  with  any  State  or  group  of  States  to  cooperate  iu  the 

*3G  Stat.,  961.     See  Press  Bui.  147,  Appendix. 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA.  27 

organization  and  maintenance  of  a  system  of  fire  protection  on  any  private  or 
State  forest  lauds  within  such  State  or  States  and  situated  upon  the  water- 
shed of  a  navigable  river:  Provided,  that  no  such  stipulation  or  agreement 
shall  be  made  with  any  State  which  has  not  provided  by  law  for  a  system  of 
forest  fire  protection  :  Provided  further,  that  in  no  case  shall  the  amount 
expended  in  any  State  exceed  in  any  fiscal  year  the  amount  appropriated  hy 
that  State  for  the  same  purpose  during  the  same  fiscal  year. 

As  no  appropriation  is  made  by  the  State  for  fire  protection,  tliis  la^v 
can  be  invoked  at  present  only  to  a  very  limited  extent.  Under  the 
mlings  of  the  United  States  Forest  Service  the  legal  regular  apportion- 
ment of  State  moneys  paid  out  for  fire  preventive  measures  can  be 
counted  in  the  same  way  as  a  direct  appropriation.  The  State  Geologist 
has  recently  arranged  for  an  expenditure  of  $2,000  per  year  for  the  next 
ten  years  for  this  purpose.  As  a  result  of  this  arrangement,  an  annual 
apportionment  of  Federal  funds  up  to  the  same  amount  has  been  secured ; 
to  be  used,  according  to  the  ruling  of  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture,  for  patrol  and  lookout  work  on  forests  covering  the  head- 
waters of  streams  in  the  western  j)art  of  the  State. 

In  addition  to  this,  there  are  now  being  advanced  tentative  plans  for 
a  scheme  of  cooperation  wdth  county  and  township  governments,  or  with 
groups  of  private  landowners,  whereby  they  may  be  able  to  obtain  the 
benefits  of  the  new  law  without  any  large  State  expenditure. 

Appointment  of  Forest  Wardens. 

The  township  and  district  forest  wardens,  whose  appointment  by  the 
State  Forester  is  permitted  under  section  2,  should  be  men  of  known  fit- 
ness for  the  work  which  they  are  to  undertake.  They  should  be  residents 
of  the  county  and  township  in  which  they  are  to  work,  should  be  familiar 
with  all  parts  of  their  district,  should  be  men  used  to  the  woods,  experi- 
enced in  fighting  fires,  on  good  terms  with  their  neighbors,  strong, 
healthy,  absolutely  honest,  and  able  to  make  out  intelligently  such  few 
reports  as  will  be  required  of  them.  Where  such  men  are  willing  to  de- 
vote a  part  of  their  time  to  the  seiwice  of  the  State,  receiving  only  such 
compensation  as  is  provided  in  the  law,  the  number  of  fires  will  un- 
doubtedly be  greatly  reduced,  as  has  been  the  experience  under  similar 
conditions  in  many  other  States. 

It  is  not  proposed  to  appoint  Avardens  in  every  township  or  county  in 
the  State,  because  in  many  their  seTvices  are  not  required,  the  small 
areas  of  woodland  and  the  attitude  of  the  public  against  forest  fires 
making  the  seiwices  of  a  forest  warden  unnecessary.  During  the  past  six 
years  in  which  figures  on  forest  fires  have  been  collected  the  greatest 


28  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROI.IXA. 

part  of  the  destruction  lias  occurred  in  the  mountain  and  coastal  plain 
counties.  These  counties  would,  therefore,  require  the  larger  number 
of  forest  wardens.  Many  of  the  piedmont  counties,  however,  have  suf- 
fered considerably  from  fire^,  and  Avhere  this  has  been  the  case,  and  the 
people  are  willing  and  anxious  to  cooperate  in  trying  to  prevent  fires, 
the  appointment  of  wardens  would  probably  be  made.  As  a  general 
proposition,  it  may  bd'  stated  that  in  townships  containing,  less  than  60 
per  cent  of  forest  land  forest  wardens  would  not  be  needed,  while  in 
those  having  more  than  this  proportion  wooded  a  considerable  number 
of  them  might  be  expected  to  need  Avardens. 

Even  Avhen  an  appropriation  is  made  by  the  State  for  the  carrying 
out  of  this  part  of  the  law  no  indiscriminate  appointment  of  wardens 
will  be  made.  Each  township  will  be  considered  upon  its  own  merits, 
and  only  after  careful  consideration  of  local  conditions  and  public  senti- 
ment, as  well  as  of  the  fitness  of  the  man  proposed,  will  an  appointment 

be  made. 

Prosecutions. 

The  object  of  this  law  is  not  the  persecution  of  private  citizens,  but 
the  prevention  of  forest  fires.  The  majority  of  fires  are  caused  by  care- 
lessness, and  in  most  localities  these  can  be  gradually  lessened  by  bringing 
before  the  people  various  kinds  of  reminders  to  be  careful.  When 
carelessness  becomes  gross  or  criminal  a  ]irosecution  is  often  the  only 
reminder  that  will  have  any  effect. 

But  some  fires  are  started  intentionally,  in  plain  violation  of  law. 
In  such  cases  it  is  the  evident  duty  not  only  .of  the  law  officers,  but  of 
every  law-abiding  citizen,  to  do  everything  possible  to  bring  the  offender 
to  justice. 

Though  the  enforcement  of  the  forestry  laws  is  the  special  duty  of  the 
forest  Avardens  for  whose  appointment  provision  is  made  in  the  new  laAv, 
prosecutions  can  also  be  taken  up  in  the  ordinary  way.  In  fact,  over 
the  greater  part  of  the  State  law  enforcement  will  have  to  come  through 
the  regular  county  and  township  officers. 

Where  evidence  is  obtainable,  any  citizen  or  officer  of  the  law  can  swear 
out  a  warrant  before  a  justice  of  the  peace  which  will  be  immediately 
executed  by  the  law  officer.  The  offender  will  then  be  tried  in  the 
magistrate's  court,  following  the  usual  procedure.  Should  a  sheriff, 
deputy  sheriff,  or  township  constable  discover  some  one  in  the  act  of 
violating  the  law,  he  should  arrest  him  without  warrant,  take  him  im- 
mediately before  a  justice  of  the  peace,  Avhere  the  necessary  papers 
Avould  be  made  o]it  and  the  trial  proceed  with  tlie  arresting  officer  as 
Avitness. 


FOREST    FIRES    IN    Tstorth    CAROLINA.  29 

Forest  wardens  liave  the  same  power  as  constables  and  sheriffs  to 
arrest  without  warrant  those  taken  in  the  act  of  violating  the  forestry 
laws.  In  all  other  cases  they  must  swear  out  warrants  before  a  magis- 
trate, just  as  a  private  citizen  would  be  required  to  do.  They  cannot 
serve  a  warrant,  but  it  must  be  turned  over  to  the  constable  and  served 
in  the  regular  way. 

It  will,  however,  be  the  special  duty  of  the  forest  warden  to  work  up 
evidence  against  all  persons  suspected  of  violating  the  forestry  laws. 
His  knowledge  of  the  region  and  of  the  people  of  the  region  will  give 
the  warden  a  great  advantage  in  this  respect.  He  should  be  able  to  find 
out  the  cause  of  a  fire  without  delay,  and  it  is  his  duty  to  do  so.  He 
must  then  secure  sufficient  evidence,  swear  out  a  warrant,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, appear  himself  as  a  witness  in  the  case.  Forest  wardens  are  ap- 
pointed to  protect  the  forests  of  the  State  from  fire,  and  this  they  must 
do  to  the  utmost  of  their  ability,  carrying  out  the  laws  enacted  for  that 
purpose. 

Forest  Wardens. 

The  regulations  and  instructions  contemplated  in  section  3  will  cover 
such  duties  as  are  not  specifically  mentioned  in  the  law.  Included  in 
them  would  be  the  manner  of  procedure  in  case  of  fire ;  instructions  as  to 
the  best  methods  of  fighting  fires  in  various  cases ;  the  organization  of  a 
fire-fighting  force ;  the  necessary  preparations  for  a  fire  season ;  the  time 
when  patrol  must  be  undertaken;  methods  of  investigation  into  the 
causes  of  fires;  the  collection  of  evidence  for  prosecutions;  and  many 
other  things  in  regard  to  the  daily  duties  of  the  wardens. 

The  duties  of  fire  w^ardens  mentioned  in  section  4  are  those  which  are 
universally  recognized  as  the  usual  duties  of  such  officers.  Other  duties 
and  acts  may  be  necessary  in  certain  cases,  or  as  conditions  which  are 
not  now  foreseen  arise  from  year  to  year.  These  other  duties  Avill  be 
such  as  any  employer  of  help  might  require  of  those  under  him,  and 
will  of  course  be  in  strict  accordance  Avith  this  and  all  other  laws  of 
the  State. 

The  reports  required  from  forest  wardens  are  necessary  not  only  that 
the  State  Forester  may  be  in  close  touch  with  the  wardens  and  with  fire 
conditions  in  the  various  districts,  but  also  as  a  check  on  the  monthly 
accounts  sent  in  by  the  wardens,  which  have  to  be  paid  after  approval 
by  the  State  Forester.  The  reports  will  be  as  simple  and  brief  as  is 
consistent  with  the  information  desired.  Blank  forms  will  be  printed, 
so  that  only  a  small  amount  of  wi-iting  will  be  necessary.  These  reports 
will  form  the  basis  of  the  annual  report  of  the  State  Forest  Warden 


30  FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

as  to  the  number  of  fires,  the  area  burnt  over,  the  damage  done,  and  the 
cost  to  the  State  in  preventing  and  extinguishing  fires.  In  districts 
where  wardens  are  appointed  these  reports  will  supersede  the  voluntary 
reports  now  sent  in  in  regard  to  forest  fires. 

Patrol. 

Patrol  is  an  important  duty  of  the  forest  Avarden.  Patrol  means  pre- 
vention, for  usually  the  officer  Avho  patrols  prevents  as  many  fires  as  he 
extinguishes.  By  traversing  the  forests  under  his  charge  during  ex- 
cessively dry  weather,  the  patrolman  is  often  not  only  able  to  detect 
and  extinguish  fires  before  they  get  beyond  control,  but  the  likelihood 
of  his  presence  at  any  place  will  in  all  probability  deter  many  who 
might  otherwise  either  carelessly,  negligently,  or  intentionally  start  fires. 
Patrol  is  such  an  important  part  of  modern  forest  fire  prevention  that 
the  Federal  Government  stipulates  that  the  money  expended  by  it  in 
cooperative  fire  protection  with  the  various  States  must  be  spent  to  a 
large  extent  in  the  employment  of  patrolmen  and  lookouts. 

Patrol  is  now  practiced  wherever  effective  fire  protection  is  attempted. 
The  new  State  law  requires  the  forest  wardens  to  patrol  during  dry  and 
dangerous  seasons,  and,  in  addition,  gives  the  State  Forester  full  power 
to  establish  and  direct  such  patrol  whenever  in  his  judgment  this  is 
advisable  or  necessary.  By  referring  to  Table  1  it  will  be  seen  the  "dry 
and  dangerous  seasons"  are  most  likely  to  occur  in  spring  and  fall,  and 
it  is  in  these  two  seasons  that  most  of  the  patrol  work  would  be  carried 
on.  However,  local  conditions  or  exceptional  seasons  might  make  it 
necessary  to  establish  patrols  at  any  time  of  the  year. 

By  virtue  of  a„ cooperative  agreement  recently  (June  9,  1915)  entered 
into  between  the  State  Geological  Board  and  the  United  States  Depart- 
ment of  Agriculture,  a  number  of  patrols  will  be  established  in  the  moun- 
tainous parts  of  the  State  during  the  fall  fire  season  of  1915,  and  each 
fire  season  thereafter,  as  long  as  the  arrangement  continues.  These  men 
Avill  be  State  Forest  Wardens.  They  will  work  under  the  direction  of 
the  State  Forester,  but  will  be  paid  by  the  United  States  Government. 
Honest,  energetic,  intelligent  men  are  required  for  this  work;  men  who 
are  familiar  with  the  region  which  they  will  have  to  patrol,  who  have 
done  woods  work  and  have  had  experience  in  fighting  fire. 

The  Power  of  Arrest. 

ISTo  law  can  be  effective  unless  it  is  enforced.  The  great  weakness  of 
the  old  law  against  burning  the  woods  was  that  there  was  no  special 
system  of  enforcement.  The  present  law  provides  that  system,  and  it 
must  be  made  as  effective  as  possible. 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA.  31 

It  is  well  kuoAvn  that  many  of  our  worst  fires  are  of  incendiary  origin. 
They  are  started  by  irresponsible  and  often  vicious  men,  who  are  deter- 
mined to  injure  their  neighbors,  or  even  one  particular  neighbor,  or  else 
are  indifferent  to  the  loss  sustained  by  property  owners  and  the  com- 
munity at  large.  Experience  has  shown  that  it  is  usually  very  diffi- 
cult to  apprehend  such  offenders,  because  they  operate  in  wild,  uninhab- 
ited country,  and  often  at  night.  It  would  be  folly  to  employ  men  to 
prevent  forest  fires,  require  them  to  find  out  who  started  the  -fires,  and 
then,  when  they  come  up  with  the  offender,  compel  them  to  return  many 
miles  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  such  of- 
fender. It  is  difficult  enough  to  find  the  man  who  burns  the  woods,  but  it 
would  be  next  to  impossible  to  make  arrests  if  such  a  procedure  w^ere 
required.  It  has,  therefore,  always  been  found  necessary  to  give  forest 
wardens  the  power  of  deputy  sheriffs,  namely,  the  power  to  arrest  with- 
out a  warrant  those  caught  in  the  act  of  violating  the  law.  This  power  is 
not  likely  to  be  abused,  for  it  is  the  policy  of  the  forest  warden  service  to 
maintain  the  closest  relations  of  fairness  and  good-will  with  all  the  law- 
abiding  citizens  of  the  district.  A  forest  warden  who  presumed  to  mis- 
use his  power  in  this  direction  would  at  once  be  complained  of  so  bitterly 
that  his  removal  would  be  accomplished  without  delay.  The  whole  object 
of  the  present  law  is  to  prevent  and  extinguish  forest  fires,  and  all  other 
motives  must  and  will  be  strictly  excluded  from  the  operations  of  the 
law. 

Assistance  in  Fighting  Fires. 

The  power  to  summons  necessary  assistance  for  fighting  fires  is  given 
to  forest  wardens  and  a  small  penalty  provided  for  refusal  to  serve.  This 
means  that  unless  some  reasonable  excuse  can  be  given  for  declining  to 
assist  in  extinguishing  fires  the  persons  summoned  will  be  liable  to  a 
fine.  If  a  reasonable  excuse  should  be  given,  and  the  forest  warden 
should  decline  to  accept  such  excuse — a  contingency  hardly  likely  to 
occur — the  justice  of  the  peace  before  whom  any  action  would  come 
would  undoubtedly  decide  that  such  excuse  was  valid  and  that  the  warden 
was  not  justified  in  declining  to  accept  it.  This  adequately  safeguards 
the  power  of  summons. 

C onipensation  of  Forest  ^Yardcns. 

One  of  the  most  frequently  advanced  arguments  against  State  forest 
protection  has  been  that  by  employing  men  to  extinguish  fires  they  were 
being  induced  to  set  out  fires  in  order  that  they  might  be  reimbursed 
for  extinguishing  them.  Perhaps  the  simplest  answer  to  such  an  argu- 
ment is  that  only  the  worst  men  in  a  community  would  attempt  such  a 


32  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA. 

practice,  aiid  that  the  forestry  law  contemplates  the  employment  of  the 
best  men  in  the  community.  It  would  be  a  poor  policy  indeed  for  any 
forest  warden  to  attempt  such  a  practice,  because  there  are  always  a 
large  number  of  people  ready  to  report  any  failure  in  duty  of  a  State 
employee.  It  is  certain  that  any  forest  officer  Avho  attempted  such  a 
thing  would  get  dismissed  without  delay.  On  the  other  hand,  should 
some  irresponsible  party  attempt  to  practice  firing  the  woods  in  order  to 
secure  employment  under  the  forest  warden,  the  warden  would  be  quick 
to  suspect  and  discover  any  such  criminal  practice.  Where  such  laws  are 
enforced  there  has  been  little  or  no  trouble  from  this  source,  though  the 
same  argument  has  been  advanced  against  the  operation  of  a  like  pro- 
vision of  law  in  nearly  every  State  where  it  has  been  tried. 

It  has  occasionally  been  urged  that  it  is  useless  to  pay  men  for  fighting 
fires,  because  in  many  communities  any  number  of  men  could  be  found 
in  an  emergency  to  fight  fires  without  compensation.  It  would  not  only 
be  unfair  to  the  citizens  of  the  community  to  expect  them  to  carry  on 
this  most  exhausting  work  without  pay,  but  it  would  be  exceedingly  in- 
effective and  Avould  defeat  the  object  of  the  law.  The  function  of  fire 
protection  is  to  prevent  fires  rather  than  to  extinguish  them.  That  is, 
fires  should  not  be  allowed  to  start ;  and  if  they  do  get  started,  they  must 
be  put  out  before  they  become  large  fires.  The  first  rule  for  the  fire 
fighter  is  to  get  to  the  fire  as  soon  as  possible.  A  small  fire  is  more  easily 
extinguished  and  does  infinitely  less  damage  than  a  large  fire.  N'oav, 
only  the  large  fire  offers  sufficient  inducement  for  the  average  man  to 
leave  his  regular  work  and  go  out  and  spend  half  a  day  or  a  whole  day 
fighting  to  stop  its  advance.  A  small  fire  is  apt  to  be  neglected  in  the 
usually  vain  hope  that  it  will  burn  itself  out  or  some  one  else  will  extin- 
guish it.     The  State  cannot  afford  to  risk  such  haphazard  methods. 

ADDITIONAL    PROTECTION    TO   CITY   WATER    SUPPLIES. 

The  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  has  consistently  advocated 
the  effective  protection  from  fire  of  the  forested  watersheds  of  cities  and 
towns.  It  has  stood  and  still  stands  ready  at  any  time  to  examine  such 
areas  with  the  object  of  recommending  methods  for  protecting  them 
from  forest  fires  and  consequent  contamination. 

A  number  of  such  examinations  have  already  been  made  and  reports 
submitted.  Two  such  reports  have  been  published,  those  for  Marion  and . 
Asheville."'" 

Following  the  suggestions  contained  in  these  reports,  and  especially  in 
a  letter  written  by  the  State  Forester  and  pul)lislicd  in  the  Asheville 


"Sec  Bi.'nnial  Kcports  of  tlif  State  Geologist.  1>.mi!I-1i 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA. 


33 


Gazettc-Xews,  as  well  as  iu  editorial  comments  by  that  paper,  Senator 
"Weaver  of  Bun-combe  drew  up  and  introduced  into  the  General  Assembly 
of  1913  a  bill  which  is  now  one  of  our  important  forestry  laws. 

THE   LAW   FOR   THE   PROTECTIOX    OF    CITY    WATERSHEDS. 

The  following  law,  while  only  applying  to  municipal  watersheds,  has 
an  important  and  increasing  usefulness  in  this  State,  because  of  the 
recent  rapid  development  of  the  forested  watershed  idea : 

AX  ACT  TO  PROTECT  WATERSHEDS  OWNED  BY  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 
FROM  DAMAGE  BY  FIRE.7 

The  GenemJ  Asscmhh/  of  Xorth  CaroJina  do  enact: 

Sectiox  1.  That  any  person,  firm,  or  corporation  owning  lands  or  the  stand- 
ing timber  on  lands  within  400  feet  of  any  watershed  held  or  owned  by  any 
city  or  town,  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  a  city  or  town  water  supply,  upon 
cutting  or  removing  the  timber,  or  permitting  same  to  be  cut  or  removed,  from 
lands  so  within  said  400  feet  of  said  watershed,  or  any  part  thereof,  shall, 
within  three  months  after  cutting,  or  earlier  upon  written  notice  by  said  city 
or  town,  remove  or  cause  to  be  burned,  under  proper  supervision,  all  tree-tops, 
boughs,  laps,  and  other  portions  of  timber  not  desired  to  be  taken  for  commer- 
cial or  other  purposes  within  400  feet  of  the  boundary  line  of  such  part  of 
said  watershed  as  is  held  or  owned  by  such  town  or  city,  so  as  to  leave  such 
space  of  400  feet  immediately  adjoining  the  boundary  lines  of  such  watershed 
so  held  or  owned  free  and  clear  of  all  such  tree-tops,  laps,  boughs,  and  other 
inflammable  material  caused  by  or  left  from  cutting  such  standing  timber,  so 
as  to  prevent  the  spread  of  fire  from  such  cut-over  area  and  the  consequent 
damage  to  such  watershed. 

Sec  2.  That  any  such  person,  firm,  or  corporation  violating  the  provisions 
of  this  act  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor. 

Sec  3.   That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  6th  day  of  March.  A.  D.  191.3. 

Pure  water  means  health.  A  protected  watershed  insures  unpolluted 
water.  An  abundant  supply  of  pure  water  is  the  best  advertisement  a 
city  can  have.  To  secure  and  maintain  such  a  supply  is  the  best  invest- 
ment a  city  can  make. 

Many  cities  and  towns  in  Xorth  Carolina  own  their  own  "catchment 
areas"  or  watersheds ;  others  secure  their  water  from  small  streams  whose 
drainage  area  is  o-\vned  by  private  individuals.  In  both  cases  the  State 
insists  that  certain  general  precautions  be  taken  by  the  city  authorities 
to  prevent  pollution  of  their  waters,  and  monthly  inspection  patrol  is 
insisted  upon  for  this  purpose. 

The  most  obvious  and  most  effective  measure  to  prevent  pollution  of 
streams,  namely,  the  protection  of  the  woodlands  on  their  watersheds 


tChapter  56,  PubUc  Laws  191.3. 


34  FOREST    FIRES    I^    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

from  fire,  has  until  A'ery  recently  received  no  attention  from  the  State, 
and  only  in  certain  noteworthy  instances,  particularly  those  of  Asheville 
and  Marion,  from  the  municipal  authorities  themselves. 

A  bare,  hard  soil  surface,  such  as  is  left  by  burning  the  woods,  allows 
the  rainfall  to  collect  and  run  directly  to  the  streams,  carrying  with  it 
small  particles  of  soil,  decaying  vegetable  or  animal  matter  or  other 
material,  often  laden  with  typhoid  and  other  disease  germs.  If,  however, 
the  woods  are  protected  from  fire,  there  will  be  a  good  coat  of  leaves  on 
the  ground,  held  together  by  grass,  weeds,  and  bushes.  This  makes  an 
absorbent  cover  to  the  soil  which  acts  as  a  sponge,  soaking  up  the  rain 
as  it  falls  and  at  the  same  time  keeping  the  soil  soft  and  pei'meable  so 
that  the  rainfall  will  nearly  all  of  it  be  soaked  into  the  ground.  In  this 
way  all  impurities  are  filtered  out,  and  the  springs  are  supplied  regularly 
Avith  clear,  pure  water. 

The  movement  for  more  complete  control  by  cities  and  towns  of  their 
water  supplies  has  grown  very  rapidly  in  North  Carolina.  At  the  1915 
session  of  the  Legislature  a  number  of  our  mountain  towns  secured  the 
necessary  permission  to  purchase  or  enlarge  their  watersheds,  Waynes- 
ville,  Asheville,  Hendersonville,  Tryon,  and  Old  Fort  being  among 
them.  These  municipal  forests  must  be  protected  from  fire  as  well  as 
from  other  dangerous  and  deleterious  influences.  Municipal  authorities 
should  see  that  this  law  is  enforced  wherever  it  is  applicable.  In  ad- 
dition, they  should  assist  the  responsible  officers  in  every  possible  way  in 
the  strict  enforcement  of  the  general  forest  fire  law. 

Watersheds  on  which  part  or  all  of  the  land  is  in  private  ownership 
may  have  to  be  further  protected  by  the  enactment  of  a  laAv  to  prohibit 
parties  burning  over  even  their  own  land.  Possibly,  how^ever,  the  State 
Board  of  Health  has  already  sufficient  power  to  control  this. 

LAWS   FOR  THE   CREATION   OF  STATE   FORESTS. 
NEED  FOR  DEMONSTRATION  IN  FORESTRY. 

Two-thirds  of  the  land  area  of  Xorth  Carolina  is  in  Avoods  and  only 
one-third  is  cultivated.  The  Avoodland,  however,  yields  a  much  smaller 
revenue  to  its  owners  than  does  the  cleared  land.  Why?  Is  it  not,  at 
least  in  part,  because  we  bestow  so  little  thought  and  labor  on  the  two- 
thirds  which  is  in  forest  ?  No  one  will  work  in  the  woods  unless  he  gets 
immediate  returns  in  the  form  of  sawlogs,  ties,  cordwood,  etc.  Yet  much 
forethought  and  labor  without  direct  result  is  expended  on  the  cultivated 
land.  Is  it  not  worth  Avhile  to  knoAv  how  such  forethought  and  work  can 
be  made  to  increase  the  value  and  yields  of  two-thirds  the  total  area 
of  the  State?     IIow  has  our   State  Government  set  aboul  improving 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA.  35 

agriculture  in  Xortli  Carolina  ?  Xot  only  by  publisliing  bulletins,  in- 
structive but  all  too  little  read ;  not  only  by  providing  for  talks  at  farm- 
ers' institutes;  it  is  not  even  satisfied  with  providing  splendid  colleges 
and  high  schools  where  young  men  can  be  taught  both  the  theory  and 
practice  of  agriculture.  But  our  active  and  progressive  Department  of 
Agriculture  has  purchased  seven  test  farms  in  different  regions  of  the 
State,  where  crop  varieties  are  gro-rni,  and  where  it  is  shown  which 
varieties  and  what  methods  are  most  suitable  for  certain  soils  and  cli- 
mates. In  addition  to  these  and  in  a  way  combining  the  college  and  the 
test  farm,  farm-life  schools  are  being  established  in  nearly  every  county 
in  the  State.  But  the  arguments  which  above  all  else  bring  home  to  the 
adult  farmers  the  possibility,  even  the  necessity,  of  practicing  better 
methods  are  brought  out  on  the  demonstration  plats  maintained  by  the 
Department  of  Agriculture,  and  the  demonstration  crops  supervised  by 
State  and  county  demonstration  agents. 

Does  not  this  suggest  the  value  of  State  experiment  and  demonstration 
forests  in  carrying  out  a  forest  policy  for  the  State?  The  Department 
of  Agriculture  has  set  a  precedent  which  the  Forestry  Department  should 
not  only  be  allowed,  but  required  to  follow. 

THE   LAW    GOVERXING    THE   ACQUIBEMEXT   AND    ADMIXISTRATIOX    OF    STATE    FORESTS. 

The  following  law,  passed  at  the  recent  session  of  the  Legislature,  is 
the  first  step  in  the  inauguration  of  such  a  policy.  While  it  does  not 
provide  funds  for  the  purchase  of  forest  lands,  it  does  recognize  the  prin- 
ciple of  State  experiment  and  demonstration  forests,  and  places  the 
authority  to  purchase  such  forests,  when  money  for  that  purpose  may  be 
available,  with  a  responsible  and  competent  department  of  the  State  Gov- 
ernment. It  also  provides  that  State  forests  may  be  organized  and  ad- 
ministered without  any  further  legal  enactments,  where  gifts  of  land 
can  be  secured  for  this  purpose. 

AX  ACT  TO  ALLOW  THE  ACQUIREMENT  BY  THE  STATE  OF 
STATE  FORESTS.* 

The  General  Asscmhly  of  Xorth  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  Governor  of  the  State  is  authorized,  upon  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Geological  Board,  to  accept  gifts  of  land  to  the  State,  the  same  to 
be  held,  protected,  and  administered  by  said  board  as  State  forests,  and  to  be 
used  so  as  to  demonstrate  the  practical  utility  of  timber  culture  and  water 
conservation,  and  as  refuges  for  game.  Such  gifts  must  be  absolute  except  in 
such  cases  as  where  the  mineral  interest  on  the  laud  has  previously  been 
sold.  The  State  Geological  Board  shall  have  the  power  to  purchase  lands  in 
the  name  of  the  State,  suitable  chiefly  for  the  production  of  timber,  as  State 


^Chapter  253,  Public  Laws  1915. 


36  FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

forests,  for  exixrimental,  demonstration,  educational,  parlv.  and  protection 
purposes,  using  for  such  purposes  any  special  ai)pr()pi-iations  or  funds  availa- 
ble. The  Attorney-General  of  the  State  is  directed  to  see  that  all  deeds  to 
the  State  of  land  mentioned  in  this  section  are  properly  executed  before  the 
gift  is  accepted  or  payment  of  the  purchase  money  is  made.  Said  State 
forests  shall  be  subject  to  county  taxes  assessed  on  the  same  basis  as  are 
private  lands,  to  be  paid  out  of  moneys  in  the  State  Treasury  not  otherwise 
appropriated. 

Sec.  2.  That  all  moneys  received  from  the  sale  of  wood,  timber,  minerals, 
or  other  products  from  the  State  forests  shall  be  paid  into  the  State  Treasury 
and  to  the  credit  of  the  Geological  Board ;  and  such  moneys  shall  be  expended 
in  carrying  out  the  puri)oses  of  this  act  and  of  forestry  in  general,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Geological  Board. 

Sec.  2V>.  That  nothing  in  this  act  shall  operate  or  be  construed  as  authority 
for  the  payment  of  any  money  out  of  the  State  Treasury  for  the  purchase  of 
lands  or  for  other  purposes  unless  by  appropriation  for  said  purpose  by  the 
General  Assembly. 

Sec.  3.  That  all  laws  and  clauses  of  laws  in  conflict  with  this  act  are  hereby 
repealed. 

Sec.  4.   That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  9th  day  of  March.  A.  D.  1915. 

Though  this  is  a  new  departure  for  N'orth  Carolina,  it  is  by  no  means 
a  new  idea,  as  State  experiment  and  demonstration  forests  have  been 
consistently  advocated  by  the  Xorth  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey  for  a  number  of  years  (see  Economic  Paper  'No.  22,  p.  42 ;  Press 
Bulletins  Nos.  130,  142,  145).  A  number  of  States  to  the  north  and 
west  of  us  are  now  operating  such  forests.  The  Forestry  Committee  of 
the  Fifth  National  Conservation  Congress  reported  two  years  ago  a  total 
of  sixty-three  State  forest  experiment  stations  in  eleven  States,  more 
than  three-quarters  of  them  being  in  the  two  States  of  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio.  In  some  cases  regular  State  forests,  or  parts  of  them,  are  used  as 
experiment  forests,  while  in  other  cases  separate  and  smaller  areas  are 
procured.  Ohio,  for  example,  has  fourteen  experiment  forests  and  no 
State  forests,  while  Michigan  has  fifty-two  State  forests  and  only  one 
experiment  forest.  However,  all  organized  and  administered  State 
forests  cannot  help  but  be  demonstration  forests  to  a  greater  or  less  ex- 
tent, because  they  show  to  the  citizens  how  the  State  manages  its  own 
forest  lands.  Whether  these  are  managed  in  the  right  or  wrong  way 
depends  on  the  knowledge  and  money  available,  and  the  knowledge  de- 
pends, at  least  in  part,  on  experiments  which  should  be  made  on  those  or 
similar  forest  areas. 

Gifts  of  Land  for  State  Forests. 

There  are,  no  doubt,  many  public-spirited  citizens  of  Nortli  Carolina 
who,  if  they  realized  the  need  for  demonstration  and  ex[)criment  forests, 


FOREST    P-IRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA.  37 

would  gladly  give  to  the  State  enough  forest  land  to  adeqiiately  serve 
such  a  purpose,  JSTot  only  is  low-priced  land  suitable  for  this  purpose, 
but  valuable  land  is  most  unsuitable.  Agricultural  land  is  not  wanted, 
though  a  small  percentage  of  such  might  be  included  in  the  place.  What 
is  needed  is  to  show  how  forest  which  is  to  remain  in  woods  should  be 
managed.  There  is  land  in  nearly  every  county  which  will  pay  better 
to  keep  in  woods  than  to  clear.  This  is  certainly  worth  less  to  the  owner 
than  the  average  land  in  the  neighborhood.  At  the  same  time  it  would 
suit  forest  demonstration  purposes  better,  because  it  is  absolute  forest 
land,  i.  e.,  land  which  should  remain  permanently  in  woods. 

Demonstration  forests,  however,  should  be  accessible.  As  their  chief 
use  is  to  show  by  actual  practice  what  can  be  done  in  forestry,  they 
should  be  where  as  large  a  number  of  people  as  possible  can  see  them; 
for  instance,  near  a  main  line  of  railway  or  on  an  improved  and  well 
traveled  highway. 

Again,  they  must  contain  fairly  average  samples  of  at  least  one  im- 
portant type  of  forest  of  the  region,  and  if  possible  all  the  important 
types  should  be  represented.  Tor  instance,  a  demonstration  forest  in 
the  eastern  piedmont  region  should  have  some  hardwood  and  pine  forest, 
some  old-field  pine,  and  some  pure  hardwood  forest,  with  a  fair  repre- 
sentation of  most  of  the  important  timber  trees  of  the  region. 

Purchasing  State  Forests. 

ThB  above  law  provides  for  two  other  methods  of  securing  State 
forests  besides  by  gift.  The  State  Geological  Board  is  allowed  to  pur- 
chase State  forests  either  with  money  specially  appropriated  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  for  the  purpose  or  with  other  funds  which  may  be  avail- 
able. Section  S^/o  is  designed  to  make  clearer  the  purpose  of  this  pro- 
vision. It  says  that  money  cannot  be  withdrawn  from  the  State  Treasury 
for  the  purchase  of  land  without  special  appropriation  by  the  Legisla- 
ture. However,  when  such  appropriation  is  made  the  Geological  Board 
cannot  only  purchase  land,  but  it  can  administer  it  as  a  State  forest; 
protect  it  from  fire  and  trespass;  do  necessary  cutting  and  thinning; 
plant  trees  or  sow  seed ;  dispose  of  surplus  timber  or  other  products,  and 
make  experiments  in  improved  forest  management. 

Specific  instructions  as  to  the  management  and  care  of  such  land  are 
i;ot  necessary  in  bills  appropriating  money  to  buy  State  forests,  because 
general  permission  to  properly  administer  them  is  given  by  this  present 
law. 

The  State  Geological  Board  is  also  allowed  to  purchase  State  forests 
"for  experimental,  demonstration,  educational,  park,  and  protection  pur- 
poses," using  any  funds  available.    There  is  not  likely  to  be  very  much 


38  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA. 

of  the  regular  appropriation  for  the  work  of  the  Board  available,  but  the 
Board  is  able  to  accept  subscriptions  or  donations  of  money  from  private 
individuals  or  organizations  for  the  purpose  of  buying  State  forests.  In 
fact,  this  is  clearly  contemplated  by  law.  A  State  forest  of  a  few  hun- 
dred or  even  thousand  acres  Avould  be  a  worthy  monument  to  any  in- 
dividual or  event.  Why  should  not  one  or  more  of  North  Carolina's 
patriotic  and  public-spirited  organizations  take  the  lead  in  a  movement 
to  accumulate  funds  for  such  a  purpose  ?  "Will  not  Mount  Mitchell  State 
Park  be  a  nobler  and  more  enduring  monument  to  Dr.  Elisha  Mitchell 
than  any  one  which  could  be  erected  to  him  in  metal  or  stone  ?  There 
is  room  in  this  State  for  a  number  of  such  monuments,  and  the  per- 
manent benefit  from  their  establishment  would  be  incalculable. 

SOME  PROBLEMS  TO  BE  SOLVKD. 

Some  idea  of  the  variety  of  questions  which  can  be  solved  most  satis- 
factorily by  the  State  or  National  Governments  can  be  gathered  from 
the  following  quotation  from  Press  Bulletin  142,  "Demonstration  For- 
ests for  North  Carolina,"  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic 
Survey : 

There  are  five  iirincipal  forest  regions  in  North  Carolina,  (1)  The  Spruce, 
(2)  Mountain  Hardwoods.  (.3)  Piedmont  Region,  (4)  Coastal  Phiiu,  (5)  The 
Banks.     Some  of  these  can  well  be  divided  again  hito  smaller  subdivisions. 

(1)  The  Spruce  forests  on  the  slopes  of  our  highest  mountains  are  of  the 
greatest  importance  in  regulating  stream  flow  and  for  park  purposes.  Lum- 
bering operations  as  at  present  practiced  result  in  their  total  destruction.  It 
will  pay  the  State  to  demonstrate  that  lumbering  can  be  done  in  these  forests 
without  such  devastating  waste.  A  State  forest  in  this  type  could  at  the  same 
time  be  used  as  a  State  park,  and  for  the  protection  of  the  important  moun- 
tain streams. 

(2)  The  aiountain  forests,  which  now  contain  the  greater  part  of  our  old- 
growth  hardwood  supply,  are  being  cut  in  such  a  way  that  the  more  valuable 
kinds  of  timber  trees  are  rapidly  disappearing.  Landowners  should  be  shown 
how  to  cut  so  that  the  proportion  of  the  poplar,  chestnut,  linn,  and  other 
valuable  species  will  be  increased  in  the  second  growtli,  rather  than  dimin- 
ished. 

(3)  The  original  growth  pine  has  been  so  largely  removed  fi-oni  what  were 
the  mixed  hardwood  and  pine  forests  of  the  Piedmont  region  that  the  second 
growth  now  consists  almost  entirely  of  the  much  slower  growing  oak.  How 
best  to  increase  the  proportion  of  young  pine  timber  in  these  woods  is  a  prob- 
lem which  can  be  decided  by  experiment,  and  can  then  be  conclusively  shown 
by  demonstration. 

(4)  The  rehabilitation  of  our  once  large  turpentine  industry  depends  on 
second-growth  long-leaf  pine.  This  tree  has  been  practically  exterminated 
over  large  areas,  and  little  effort  is  being  made  to  bring  it  back,  even  in  the 
districts  best  suited  to  its  growth.  Experiments  on  the  ground  would  show 
that  much  so-called  waste  land  could  profitably  produce  long-leaf  pine. 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA.  39 

(5)  "The  Banks"  and  similar  areas  along  our  coast  were  originally  covered 
with  forests.  Now  they  are  mostly  bare  sandy  wastes.  The  best  methods  of 
reforesting  them  and  making  them  permanently  productive,  and  at  the  same 
time  stopping  the  ceaseless  drifting  of  the  sand,  can  only  be  shown  by  doing 
actual  work  in  reforestation  on  the  ground. 

These  and  many  other  just  as  important  problems  in  forest  management 
and  forest  protection  have  to  be  solved  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people  of 
North  Carolina,  and  this  can  'best  he  done  hy  the  State  on  State-oivtied  forest 
land. 

FURTHER  BE>v"EFITS   OF   STATE  FORESTS. 

While  the  most  important  use  of  State  forests  is  their  educational  value 
through  demonstration  and  experimentation,  they  have  several  other  uses,  any 
of  which  in  itself  is  generally  considered  sufficient  excuse  for  their  crea- 
tion, and.  added  to  the  primary  object,  double  their  value  to  the  State. 

(a)  Protection  Forests.  A  forest  covering  a  city  watershed  or  lying  on  the 
headwaters  of  a  stream  or  on  a  steep  mountain  slope  serves  as  a  protection 
against  muddy  or  polluted  water  or  against  floods  and  extreme  low  water. 
Such  forests  should  be  publicly  owned  and  controlled  by  the  Nation,  State,  or 
municipality  as  protection  forests.  Asheville,  Marion,  and  other  of  our  towns 
own  such  forests,  and  the  Federal  Government  is  purchasing  the  Appalachian 
National  Forests  with  this  object  primarily  in  view.  All  the  spruce  and 
balsam  forests  in  North  Carolina  should  be  publicly  owned,  if  only  for  this 
one  reason. 

(b)  Park  Forests.  There  are  areas  in  all  States  which  are  noted  for  their 
scenery,  extensive  views,  grand  waterfalls,  beautiful  trees,  rugged  cliffs  or 
gorges.  The  forest  forms  such  an  integral  part  of  the  attractiveness  of  such 
places  that  their  value  would  be  destroyed  by  its  removal.  Such  natural  mon- 
uments seem  to  belong  by  right  to  the  whole  people,  and  they  should  be  pre- 
served intact.  Even  though  now  in  private  ownership,  they  should  be  acquired 
and  preserved  by  the  State  for  the  pleasure,  health,  afid  recreation  of  its  citi- 
zens and  for  generations  yet  to  come,  all  of  whom  have  an  actual  interest  in 
their  perpetuation. 

MOrXT   MITCHELL   STATE  PARK. 

It  was  primarily  for  tlie  two  above  reasons,  as  set  forth  in  its  preamble, 
that  the  General  Assembly  passed  the  bill  to  purchase  the  top  of  Mount 
Mitchell  as  a  State  park.  This  project  has  been  strongly  advocated  by 
the  Xorth  Carolina  Forestry  Association  and  has  been  consistently  urged 
by  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  (See  Press  Bulletins 
Xos.  100,  119,  135,  and  138.)  The  measure  was  ably  championed  by 
Governor  Craig  and  was  indorsed  by  the  Asheville  Board  of  Trade  and 
many  other  similar  bodies.  The  bill  was  introduced  into  the  General 
Assembly  by  Senator  Zebulon  "Weaver  of  Buncombe,  who,  two  years 
earlier,  had  proposed  a  similar  measure.  It  received  the  strong  support 
of  a  number  of  influential  men  in  both  houses  of  the  Legislature,  and 
was  passed  in  the  House  by  a  majority  of  67  to  32. 


40  FOREST    FIKES    IX    NORTH    CAROLIXA. 

THE   MOINT    MITCIIKLL   PARK    rURCIIASE   LAW. 

The  following  is  a  co])y  of  llie  law  authorizing  the  purchase  of  the 
summit  of  Mount  Mitchell : 

AN  ACT  TO  APPOINT  A  COMMISSION  TO  ACQUIRE  A  PORTION  OF 
MOUNT  MITCHELL.  INCLUDING  THE  SUMMIT,  AND  TO  PROVIDE 
FOR  THE  CREATION  OF  A  PUBLIC  PARK  FOR  THE  USE  OF  THE 
PEOPLE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA.* 

Whereas  the  summit  of  Mount  Mitchell  in  Yancey  County  is  the  greatest 
altitude  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  whereas  the  headwaters  of  many 
of  the  important  streams  of  the  State  are  at  or  near  the  said  summit,  and  the 
forest  is  being  cleared,  which  tends  to  damage  and  injure  the  streams  flowing 
through  the  said  State  from  the  mountains  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean ;  and  whereas 
it  is  deemed  desirable  that  this  beautiful  and  elevated  spot  shall  be  acquired 
.and  permanently  dedicated  as  a  State  i)ark  for  the  use  of  the  people  of  the 
entire  State  seeking  health  and  recreation ;  and  whereas,  unless  the  said  land 
is  acquired  by  the  State  at  this  time,  the  cost  of  acquiring  it  at  a  later  date 
will  be  greatly  increased  and  the  water-courses  may  be  damaged  and  the 
beauty  of  the  scenery  destroyed  by  removing  the  growth  therefrom,  and  irrep- 
arable damage  accrue:    Now.  tlu-refori'. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact  : 

Section  1.  That  a  commission  is  hereby  created,  to  consist  of  five  practical 
business  men  who  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Governor,  and  which  shall  carry 
out  the  provisions  of  this  act  and  shall  be  known  as  the  "Mitchell  Peak  Park 
Commission." 

Sec.  2.  That  said  commission  shall  lie  and  is  hereby  created  a  body  politic 
and  corporate  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  "Mitchell  Peak  I'ark  Connnis- 
sion." 

Sec.  3.  That  the  said  commission  shall  have  the  power  to  fix  the  time  and 
place  of  its  meeting.  Said  commissioners  shall  hold  office  until  the  property 
hereinafter  described  shall  have  been  purchased  and  a  deed  made  to  the  State 
of  North  Carolina  and  until  they  shall  have  made  a  report  of  the  same  to  the 
General  Assembly  and  shall  have  been  discharged.  In  the  event  of  the  death 
or  resignation  of  any  member  of  said  commission,  his  successor  shall  be  ap- 
pointed by  the  Governor.  The  said  commissioners  shall  receive  no  compensa- 
tion but  their  traveling  expenses,  including  hotel  bills,  while  actively  engaged 
in  the  work  of  said  commission,  and  these  exi)enses  shall  be  paid  out  of  the 
funds  hereinafter  provided  for:  Provided,  that  tiie  said  commission  shall 
under  no  circumstances  expend  or  contract  to  expend  a  greater  amount  than 
that  named  in  this  act  for  the  purchase  of  said  land. 

Sec.  4.  The  said  commission  shall  convene  as  soon  as  practical)le  and  elect 
a  chairman.  The  said  chairman  .shall  from  time  to  time  draw  a  warrant  or 
warrants  upon  the  treasurer  of  the  State,  which,  after  being  approved  and 
countersigned  by  the  Governor  and  two  other  members  of  tin-  conunission  be- 


'Chapter  70.  I'lihlic  Lii 


FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA.  41 

sides  the  chairman,  shall  be  paid  by  the  said  treasurer  to  the  owner  of  said 
lands  purchased  for  the  said  purpose  out  of  any  funds  not  otherwise  appro- 
priated. 

Sec.  5.  The  total  amount  to  be  expended  under  this  act  shall  not  exceed 
$20,000,  and  the  said  sum  of  $20,000  is  hereby  designated  as  a  maximum 
amount  to  be  expended  in  the  acquisition  of  the  said  properties,  and  the  said 
commission  is  especially  charged  with  the  duty  of  acquiring  as  much  of  the 
lands  as  is  possible  for  the  purpose  intended,  not  exceeding  the  maximum 
amount  hereinbefore  designated. 

Sec.  6.  Out  of  the  funds  so  appropriated  the  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Com- 
mission shall  have  power,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to  acquire  either  by  purchase 
or  condemnation  so  much  of  Mount  Mitchell,  including  the  peak  thereof,  as 
they  shall  deem  necessary  as  a  suitable  site  for  the  purpose  intended,  and 
in  the  event  of  the  purchase  of  said  land  or  lands  privately  from  the  owner 
or  owners  thereof,  the  said  commission  shall  take  a  deed  to  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  therefor. 

Sec.  7.  Whenever  from  any  cause  the  said  commission  cannot  agree  with 
the  owner  or  owners  of  the  land  which  they  shall  select  for  the  purpose  of 
the  park  as  aforesaid,  as  to  the  price  to  be  paid  for  the  same  or  for  any  part 
thereof,  said  land  or  lands  may  be  taken  at  a  valuation  to.  be  made  by  three 
competent  and  disinterested  freeholders  of  the  county  of  Yancey,  one  of  whom, 
after  due  notice  to  the  landowner  of  such  proceedings,  shall  be  chosen  by  the 
said  commission,  one  selected  by  the  landowner,  and  these  two  shall  select  a 
third ;  and  in  case  the  landowner  refuses  to  select,  then  said  commission  shall 
select  two  and  these  two  shall  select  a  third,  and  said  freeholders  after  being 
duly  sworn  by  a  justice  of  the  peace  of  the  county  of  Yancey,  shall  at  once  go 
on  said  land  and  proceed  to  condemn  said  land  or  lands  and  ascertain  the 
sum  which  shall  be  paid  the  owner  or  owners  of  said  properties  and  report  the 
same  to  the  said  commission,  under  their  hands  and  seals,  which  report,  on 
being  confirmed  by  the  said  commission  and  spread  upon  their  minutes,  shall 
have  the  effect  of  a  judgment  against  the  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission, 
and  upon  paying  said  sum  to  the  landowner,  or  in  the  event  of  an  appeal,  upon 
paying  said  sum  to  the  chairman  of  said  commission  to  await  the  result  of 
such  appeal,  shall  pass  title  to  the  State  of  North  Carolina  of  the  land  so 
taken :  Provided,  that  if  any  person  whose  land  is  taken  for  the  said  purpose 
or  the  said  commission  be  dissatisfied  with  the  valuation  thus  made,  then  and 
in  that  case  either  party  may  appeal  to  the  next  term  of  the  Superior  Court 
of  Yancey  County  within  ten  days  from  the  filing  of  such  report:  Provided 
further,  that  such  appeal  shall  not  hinder  the  commission  from  taking  posses- 
sion of  said  property. 

Sec.  8.  The  Governor  shall  have  power,  upon  complaint  or  upon  his  own 
motion,  to  remove  any  of  said  commissioners  for  negligence  of  duty  or  for 
any  conduct  unbecoming  said  commissioner  and  inconsistent  with  his  duties 
under  this  act.  The  position  of  commissioner  under  this  act  shall  not  be  con- 
strued to  be  an  office  within  the  meaning  of  section  7.  Article  XIY  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  North  Carolina.  The  said  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission  shall 
make  report  to  the  Governor,  setting  forth  all  purchases,  condemnations,  and 
expenditures  of  every  kind  under  this  act. 

Sec.  9.   This  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  3d  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1915. 


42  FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLINA. 

Fire  Protection  Needed. 

It  Avill  be  seen  that  this  bill  provides  only  for  the  purchase  of  the 
land.  Its  weakness  seems  to  be  that  no  provision  is  made  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  land  from  fire  both  during  and  subsequent  to  its  acquisition. 
Since  logging  operations  commenced  two  years  ago,  the  forest  areas 
which  it  is  planned  to  buy  have  been  constantly  threatened  with  de- 
struction, and  several  times  fire  has  come  upon  the  southern  slope  of  the 
mountain.  Fires  at  any  time  are  liable  to  destroy  hundreds  of  acres  of 
these  spruce  forests,  and,  once  destroyed,  the  beauties  of  the  park  would 
be  gone.  There  is  immediate  need  for  some  adequate  system  of  fire  pro- 
tection for  the  Mount  Mitchell  State  Park.  Fortunately,  special  ar- 
rangements are  now  under  consideration,  and  it  is  hoped  that  before  fall 
effective  protection  can  be  given  at  least  the  part  of  this  mountain  which 
is  to  be  purchased  by  the  State.  It  would  be  most  appropriate  that  the 
very  first  State  protection  furnished  by  North  Carolina  should  be  given 
to  historic  Mount  Mitchell. 

71ie  Commission. 

The  Mitchell  Peak  Park  Commission  provided  for  by  tliis  law  was 
appointed  by  the  Governor  on  March  31.  It  consists  of  the  following 
gentlemen,  all  of  them  from  regions  vitally  concerned  in  the  purchase  of 
the  park,  and  all  but  one  from  Yancey,  the  county  in  which  ]\Iount 
Mitchell  is  situated : 

Mr.  T.  E.  Blackstock,  Asheville,  N".  C. 

Mr.  G.  P.  Deyton,  Green  Mountain,  ]^.  C. 

Mr.  E.  F.  Watson,  Burnsville,  N.  C. 

Mr.  M.  C.  Honeycutt,  Burnsville,  W.  C. 

Mr.  Wilson  Hensley,  Bald  Creek,  N.  C. 

This  commission  mot  in  Burnsville  Saturday,  April  ]Oth,  and  organ- 
ized by  electing  Mr.  T.  E.  Blackstock  chairman  and  Mr.  M.  C.  Honey- 
cutt secretary.  A  second  meeting  was  planned  to  take  place  in  May 
on  the  top  of  Mount  Mitchell,  with  the  object  of  securing  local  informa- 
tion in  regard  to  the  different  properties  which  are  being  considered  for 
purchase  under  the  l;i\v. 

APPALACHIAN    NATIONAL   FORESTS. 

The  Federal  Goveninu'iit  cannot  [)ur('liase  or  acquii'e  control  of  laud 
in  any  State  without  the  permission  of  that  State.  It  was  therefore 
necessary,  when  the  people  were  asking  that  National  forests  or  parks 
be  established  in  western  North  Carolina,  that  the  State  grant  the  Gov- 
ernment the  right  to  make  such   purchases.     The  following  law  was 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA.  43 

by  the  General  Assembly  of  1901,  at  the  beginning  of  the  agita- 
tion for  the  Appalachian  Park  and  just  ten  years  before  the  Federal 
law  taking  advantage  of  this  permission  was  finally  enacted.  (See  Press 
Bulletin  147,  Forestry  Laws  of  Xorth  Carolina,  Appendix.) 

LAW   TO   ALLOW   FEDERAL   ACQUIREMENT. 

5430.  Forest  reserve,  icestern  Carolina.  *The  United  States  is  autliorized 
to  acquire  by  purcliase,  or  by  condemnation  with  adequate  compensation,  ex- 
cept as  hereinafter  provided,  such  lands  in  western  North  Carolina  as  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Federal  Government  may  be  needed  for  the  establishment  of  a 
National  Forest  Reserve  in  that  region.  This  consent  is  given  upon  condition 
that  the  State  of  North  Carolina  shall  retain  a  concurrent  jurisdiction  with 
the  United  States  in  and  over  such  lands  so  far  that  civil  process  in  all  cases, 
and  such  criminal  process  as  may  issue  under  the  authority  of  the  State  of 
North  Carolina  against  any  person  charged  with  the  commission  of  any  crime 
without  or  within  said  jurisdiction,  may  be  executed  thereon  in  like  manner 
as  if  this  consent  had  not  been  given.  Power  is  hereby  conferred  upon  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  to  pass  such  laws  as  it  may  deem  necessary  to 
the  acquisition  as  hereinbefore  provided,  for  incorporation  in  such  National 
forest  reserve  such  forest-covered  lands  lying  in  western  North  Carolina  as  in 
the  opinion  of  the  Federal  Government  may  be  needed  for  this  purpose,  but 
as  much  as  200  acres  of  any  tract  of  laud  occupied  as  a  home  by  bona  fide 
residents  in  this  State  on  the  18th  day  of  January.  1901.  shall  be  exempt  from 
the  provisions  of  this  section.  Power  is  hereby  conferred  upou  Congress  to 
pass  such  laws  and  to  make  or  provide  for  the  making  of  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations, of  both  civil  and  criminal  nature,  and  to  provide  punishment  therefor, 
as  in  its  judgment  may  be  necessary  for  the  management,  control,  and  protec- 
tion of  such  lands  as  may  be  from  time  to  time  acquired  by  the  United  States 
under  the  provisions  of  this  section. 

Acquirement  hy  Purchase  Only. 

In  a  few  localities  in  western  ]N'orth  Carolina  considerable  opposition 
to  the  Xational  Fgrest  Reserve  policy  was  at  one  time  developed,  based 
largely  on  a  misunderstanding  of  the  conditions  on  which  the  land  was 
to  be  procured.  The  above  State  law  allows  the  United  States  to  acquire 
land  "by  purchase,  or  by  condemnation  with  adequate  compensation." 
From  this  permission  the  idea  gained  ground  that  the  Government 
would  condemn  land  and  take  it  whether  the  owner  wished  to  sell  it  or 
not.  This  is  permitted  under  the  State  law,  provided  "adequate  com- 
pensation" is  made.  But  the  Federal  law  under  which  Appalachian 
forest  lands  are  acquired  stipulated  "that  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture 
is  hereby  authorized  to  purchase,"  and  no  other  method  of  securing 
these  lands  is  mentioned  in  the  whole  law.     There  has  been  no  thought 


'Chapter  118.  section  5430.  Revlsal  190.!i. 


44  FOREST    FIRES    IN    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

of  employing  condeinnation  proceedings  such  as  are  allowed  by  the  State 
law  and  as  are  actually  to  be  put  in  practice  by  the  Mitchell  Peak  Park 
Commission^  if  it  is  found  necessary  to  do  so. 

It  is  true,  that  in  order  to  secure  a  clear  title  to  land  which  is  owned 
by  a  number  of  different  claimants  who  have  not  only  expressed  a  will- 
ingness to  sell,  but  have  agreed  upon  a  price,  the  Government  has  in 
certain  cases  brought  condemnation  proceedings  in  court.  These  are 
nothing  but  friendly  suits  to  determine  the  real  ownership  of  the  lands 
and  the  proper  share  of  the  price  each  claimant  is  entitled  to.  It  is 
a  proceeding  all  business  men  are  familiar  with,  and  can  be  objected  to 
by  no  one. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  in  all  dealings  with  the  Federal  Government 
the  rights  and  privileges  of  the  State  are  jealously  guarded.  ]^ot  only 
does  the  State  Legislature  clearly  define  the  powers  which  it  delegates 
to  the  United  States,  but  Congress  clearly  stipulates  in  the  laAv  allowing 
the  purchase  of  land  that  no  land  shall  be  bought  in  any  State  which  has 
not  previously  given  its  consent  thereto. | 

PROTECTION  OF  GAME  ON  NATIONAL  FORESTS. 

It  is  with  the  same  scrupulous  care  to  maintain  the  most  cordial  rela- 
tions with  the  State  of  North  Carolina  and  avoid  any  possible  cause  of 
friction  that  permission  was  asked  by  the  Federal  Government  to  make 
and  enforce  regulations  for  the  protection  of  animal  life  on  the  Ap- 
palachian [N'ational  Forests.  It  might  seem  that  such  power  was  con- 
ferred upon  Congress  by  the  law  allowing  the  United  States  to  buy 
lands  (page  43),  but  this  was  not  considered  specific  enough.  In  accord- 
ance, therefore,  with  its  policy,  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
asked  permission  to  make  such  rules  and  regulations  as  were  thought 
needful  ''in  respect  to  game  animals,  game  and  nongame  birds  and  fish" 
on  Federal  lands  in  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina. 

LAW   TO  ALLOW   FKDLKAL   PROTECTION   OF   Will)   LIFK. 

The  permission  requested  by  the  Federal  Government  was  isranted  by 
the  General  Assembly  of  1915  in  the  following  law: 


tSee  page  41. 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    NORTH    CAROLINA.  45 

AX  ACT  TO  GIVE  THE  CONSENT  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NORTH  CARO- 
LINA TO  THE  MAKING  BY  THE  CONGRESS  OF  THE  UNITED 
STATES,  OR  UNDER  ITS  AUTHORITY,  OF  ALL  SUCH  RULES  AND 
REGULATIONS  AS  IN  THE  OPINION  OF  THE  FEDERAL  GOVERN- 
MENT MAY  BE  NEEDFUL  IN  RESPECT  TO  GAME  ANIMALS,  GAME 
AND  NONGAME  BIRDS.  AND  FISH  ON  LANDS.  AND  IN  OR  ON  THE 
WATERS  THEREON.  ACQUIRED  OR  TO  BE  ACQUIRED  BY  THE  FED- 
ERAL GOVERNMENT  IN  THE  WESTERN  PART  OF  NORTH  CARO- 
LINA FOR  THE  CONSERVATION  OF  THE  NAVIGABILITY  OF  NAVI- 
GABLE RIVERS.* 

Whereas  the  Governineut  of  the  United  States,  with  tlie  consent  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  has  acquired  and  will  acquire 
areas  of  forested  land  in  the  western  part  of  said  State  for  the  purpose  of 
conserving  the  navigability  of  navigable  streams,  and  said  lands  and  waters 
thereon  are  and  will  be  stocked,  naturally  and  artificially,  with  game  animals, 
game  and  nongame  birds,  and  fish ;  and  whereas,  in  order  adequately  to  enjoy 
and  protect  the  occupancy  and  use  of  said  areas,  it  is  important  that  the 
United  States  be  fully  authorized  to  make  all  needful  rules  and  regulations  in 
respect  to  such  animals,  birds,  and  fish :     Therefore. 

The  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  consent  of  the  General  Assembly  of  North  Carolina  be 
and  hereby  is  given  to  the  making  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  or 
under  its  authority,  of  all  such  rules  and  regulations  as  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment shall  determine  to  be  needful  in  respect  to  game  animals,  game  and  non- 
game  birds,  and  fish,  on  such  lands  in  the  western  part  of  North  Carolina  as 
shall  have  been  or  may  hereafter  be  purchased  by  the  United  States  under 
the  terms  of  the  act  of  Congress  of  March  1,  1911,  entitled  "An.  act  to  enable 
any  State  to  cooperate  with  any  other  State  or  States,  or  with  the  United 
States,  for  the  protection  of  the  watersheds  of  navigable  streams,  and  to  ap- 
point a  commission  for  the  acquisition  of  lands  for  the  puriwses  of  conserving 
the  navigability  of  navigable  rivers"  (36  Ignited  States  Statutes  at  Large, 
page  961),  and  acts  of  Congress  supplementary  thereto  and  amendatory  thereof, 
and  in  or  on  the  waters  thereon. 

Ratified  this  the  9th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1915. 

The  people  of  Xorth  Carolina  are  coming  to  realize  very  acutely  that 
our  wild  life  needs  protection  quite  as  much  as  any  other  of  our  natural 
resources.  The  destruction  of  the  food  fishes  of  our  streams  bv  unre- 
strained and  often  unlawful  fishing  and  by  polluting  the  waters  with 
sawdust  or  mill  waste  has  reached  alarming  proportions.  And  when 
we  come  to  think  of  it,  what  right  has  a  man  to  deprive  a  neighborhood 
of  one  of  the  most  delicious  and  healthful  of  foods  in  order  that  he  may 
have  5  cents  more  per  thousand  feet  of  lumber  on  his  sawing  or  a  frac- 
tion of  a  cent  more  profit  on  his  investment  in  some  large  manufacturing 
plant?     The  manufacturers  of  lumber,  of  leather,  of  paper,  all  do  their 


►Chapter  205,  PubUc  Laws  1915. 


46  FOREST    FIRES    IX    NORTH    CAROLINA. 

part  towards  the  development  of  the  community  and  the  State,  but  we 
are  beginning  to  realize  that  in  prosecuting  their  business  they  have  no 
right  to  trespass  upon  the  rights  of  their  neighbors. 

Game  birds  in  ]^orth  Carolina  have  generally  been  looked  upon  in  the 
light  of  the  special  property  of  the  sportsman,  and  heretofore  game  laws 
have  been  passed  chiefly  for  his  benefit.  We  are  now,  however,  coming 
to  realize  that  the  farmer,  the  owner  of  the  land,  has  much  more  interest 
in  the  game  which  lives  upon  his  land  than  has  the  man  whose  sole 
interest  is  killing  it.  To  mention  one  instance  of  this,  our  common 
partridge  or  quail  is  worth  to  the  farmer  for  destroying  noxious  insects 
a  great  deal  more  than  it  is  to  the  sportsman  or  the  hotel  keeper.  In 
the  future  our  game  laAvs  must  consider,  first,  the  value  of  the  living 
birds  and  animals  to  the  landowner  and  the  general  public  before  it  con- 
siders their  value  from  the  old  standpoint  of  being  something  to  kill. 

ARBOR    DAY. 

The  regular  observance  of  Arbor  Day  in  Xorth  Carolina  has  been 
strongly  advocated  by  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey  for  a 
number  of  years.  The  first  press  bulletin  on  this  subject  ever  issued  by 
the  Survey  had  the  above  title,  and  not  only  advocated  tlie  general  ob- 
servance of  this  day  throughout  the  State,  but  suggested  the  adaptation 
of  a  program  to  the  special  conditions  existing  in  ]N'orth  Carolina.  As 
well  as  emphasizing  the  planting  of  trees,  it  was  recommended  that  the 
attention  of  the  children  be  called  to  the  value  of  the  forests  of  the  State 
to  the  life  of  the  average  citizen.  In  the  w^ords  of  the  author  of  the 
press  bulletin  above  referred  to,  which  was  issued  April  7,  1908,  "It  is 
to  be  desired  that  this  day  shall  be  more  generally  observed  and  that 
our  young  people  shall  be  brought  to  a  realization  of  the  value  of  our 
forests  and  the  beauty  and  need  of  trees  for  shade  and  decorative  pur- 
poses. .  .  .  How  soon  many  of  our  school  yards  could  be  made 
places  of  beauty  if  on  each  Arbor  Day  the  school  would  plant  a  certain 
number  of  trees  or  shrubs  and  then  care  for  them  during  the  year. 

"While  the  same  reasons  for  the  observance  of  Arbor  Day  in  the 
scantily  forested  western  States  cannot  all  hold  in  a  well  wooded  State 
like  North  Carolina,  yet  the  celebration  here  of  such  a  day  has  its  signifi- 
cance. Arbor  Day  in  North  Carolina  could  be  set  aside  for  the  school 
cliildi'cii  to  learn  of  the  great  natural  gift  which  ^\•v  have  in  the  forests, 
and  the  relation  of  the  forest  to  the  well-being  and  wealth  of  our  people." 

ARBOR   DAY  LAW. 

An  Arbor  Day  law  such  as  is  found  on  the  statute  books  of  practically 
half  the  States  of  the  Union  was  introduced  into  the  General  Assembly 


FOREST    FIRES    IX    XORTH    CAROLIXA.  47 

of  1913.  It,  however,  failed  of  passage,  owing  to  tlie  rush  of  bills  at  the 
end  of  the  session.  A  similar  bill  was  introduced  into  the  Legislature 
of  1915,  and,  backed  by  the  good  people  of  Charlotte  (who  had  previously 
held  a  most  successful  Arbor  Day  celebration  in  that  city),  by  the  North 
Carolina  Forestry  Association,  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Sur- 
vey, and  others  interested  in  Forestry,  it  became  a  law  without  any 
serious  opposition. 

AN  ACT  TO  APPOINT  AN  ARBOR  DAY  FOR  NORTH  CAROLINA.* 

The  General  Assemhiy  of  Xorth  Carolina  do  enact: 

Section  1.  That  the  Friday  following  the  first  day  of  November  in  each 
year  shall  be  known  as  Arbor  Day,  to  be  appropriately  observed  by  the  public 
schools  of  the  State. 

Sec.  2.  That  the  Governor  is  herewith  authorized  to  make  proclamation 
setting  forth  the  provisions  of  this  act  and  recommending  that  Arbor  Day  be 
appropriately  observed  by  the  school  children  of  the  State,  in  order  that  they 
may  be  brought  up  to  appreciate  the  true  value  of  trees  and  forests  to  their 
State. 

Sec.  3.  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  State  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction to  take  the  matter  of  the  observance  of  Arbor  Day  by  the  public 
schools  of  the  State  under  his  general  supervision,  to  issue  each  year  a  pro- 
gram for  its  observance,  to  cover  such  part  of.  the  day  as  he  may  prescribe,  and 
to  transmit  suitable  instructions  to  the  county  school  authorities  under  his 
chai-ge  for  an  appropriate  observance  of  Arbor  Day. 

Sec.  4.  That  this  act  shall  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  ratification. 

Ratified  this  the  25th  day  of  February,  A.  D.  1915. 

At  first  thought,  it  would  seem  that  Arbor  Day  should  be  celebrated  in 
the  spring.  The  planting  of  trees  and  shrubs  and  the  general  call  of  the 
out-of-doors  appeals  to  children  much  more  strongly  in  the  spring  than 
in  the  fall.  Many  kinds  of  trees  do  better  planted  just  before  the  sap 
starts  in  the  spring  than  if  planted  in  the  autumn.  It  is  for  these  and 
other  reasons  that  most  States  keep  Arbor  Day  in  the  spring,  endeavoring 
to  select  a  date  upon  which  planting  would  be  most  likely  to  be  success- 
ful. In  many  of  the  Southern  States,  however,  the  public  schools  are 
not  in  session  in  the  spring;  so  that  it  is  impossible  to  have  the  day 
generally  observed  by  the  schools  at  that  time  of  the  year.  It  is  for  this 
reason  that  several  States  observe  Arbor  Day  in  the  fall.  Two  or  three 
have  two  Arbor  Days  a  year,  one  in  the  spring  and  one  in  the  autumn. 
Kentucky,  which  originally  appointed  a  spring  day,  has  found  it  neces- 
sary to  change  to  ^STovember. 

For  this  same  reason  it  was  thought  advisable,  after  consultation  with 
the  K'orth  Carolina  school  authorities,  to  fix  a  day  when  practically 
all  schools  in  the  State  are  in  session.     It  is  hoped  that  this  will  insure 


►Chapter  .51,  PubUc  Laws  19i; 


48  FOREST    FIKKS    IX    XOKTH    CAKOLIXA. 


the  observance  of  Arbor  Day  throughout  Xorth  Carolina.  The  selection 
of  Friday  as  Arbor  Day  was  made  by  the  public  school  authorities  in 
order  that  the  exercises  would  break  into  the  regular  school  curriculum 
little  as  possible. 

Manner  of  Observance. 


as 


It  is  the  custom  in  most  States  where  Arbor  Day  is  observed  for  the 
Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation  calling  the  attention  of  the  people  to 
the  advantages  of  observing  the  day  with  tree  planting,  decorating  school 
grounds  and  home  grounds,  and  studying  the  relation  of  trees  and  forests 
to  the  life  of  the  people.  Governor  Craig  has  expressed  his  approval 
of  this  practice  by  indorsing  this  same  provision  in  the  N'orth  Carolina 
law.  The  law  expressly  authorizes  the  Governor  to  make  the  proclama- 
tion, but  it  does  not  require  it.  Whether,  therefore,  the  proclamation 
is  made  or  not,  the  validity  of  the  observance  will  be  the  same,  but  the 
active  participation  of  the  Chief  Executive  in  this  way  would  add  in- 
terest and  enthusiasm  to  the  occasion. 

The  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  who  assisted  in  the 
preparation  of  the  bill  and  has,  since  its  passage,  expressed  his  entire 
agreement  with  its  provisions,  will,  as  provided  by  the  law,  issue  a  pro- 
gram and  instruct  the  school  authorities  to  observe  the  day  in  the  proper 
manner.  Already  several  suggestions  for  Arbor  Day  celebrations  have 
been  published  by  the  various  State  departments,  and  these  may  be 
referred  to  for  assistance.  Two  years  ago  the  Department  of  Education, 
assisted  by  the  State  Geological  and  Economic  Survey,  prepared  an 
Arbor  Day  program  and  made  other  suggestions  for  the  observance  of 
the  day.  (See  Civic  Days:  Good  Eoads,  Arbor  Day,  pages  35-46,  Bul- 
letin XXII,  N.  C.  Department  of  Education,  1913.)  Last  year  the 
same  department  issued  a  program  entitled  "Community  Service  Week 
in  N"orth  Carolina" ;  a  few  suggestions  for  improving  school  grounds  by 
planting  trees,  which  can  be  done  on  Arbor  Day,  will  be  found  on  pages 
16  and  85  of  that  publication.  Other  references  to  Arbor  Day  observ- 
ance in  North  Carolina  can  be  found  in  Economic  Paper  ISTo.  22,  "Forest 
Fires  and  Their  Prevention,"  and  Press  Bulletin  No.  49,  "Arbor  Day  in 
the  North  Carolina  Schools."  Some  of  the  North  Carolina  towns  have 
also  published  Arbor  Day  programs,  notably  Durham  in  1896  and  Char- 
lotte in  1913.  Many  of  the  States  issue  annually  handsomely  illustrated 
Arbor  Day  bulletins  or  hand-books.  In  these  are  reprinted  poems  and 
other  selections  which  can  be  recited  by  the  school  children. 


PUBLICATIONS 

OF   THE 

NORTH  CAROLINA  GEOLOGICAL  AND  ECONOMIC  SURVEY. 


BULLETINS. 

1.  Iron  Ores  of  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Xitze.  189.3.  8°,  239  pp.,  20 
pi.,  and  map.     Out  of  print. 

2.  Building  and  Ornamental  Stones  in  Xortli  Carolina,  by  T.  L.  Watson  and 
F.  B.  Lauey  in  collaboration  witb  George  P.  Merrill.  1906.  8°.  283  pp.,  32  pi., 
2  figs.     Postage  2-}  cents.     Cloth-hound  copy  SO  cents  extra. 

3.  Gold  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,'  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze  and  George  B. 
Hanna,  1896.     8°,  196  pp.,  14  pi.,  and  map.     Out  of  print. 

4.  Road  Material  and  Road  Construction  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes 
and  William  Cain.  1893.     8°,  88  pp.     Out  of  print. 

5.  The  Forests.  Forest  Lands  and  Forest  Products  of  Eastern  North  Caro- 
lina, by  W.  W.  Ashe.  1894.     8°.  128  pp..  5  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

6.  The  Timber  Trees  of  North  Carolina,  by  Gifford  Pinchot  and  W.  W.  Ashe, 
1897.     8°,  227  pp.,  22  pi.     Out  of  print. 

7.  Forest  Fires :  Their  Destructive  Work.  Causes  and  Prevention,  by  W.  W. 
Ashe.  1895.     8°,  66  pp..  1  pi.     Postage  J  cents. 

8.  Water-powers  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  F.  Swain.  Joseph  A.  Holmes, 
and  E.  W.  Myers,  1899.     8°.  362  pp.,  16  pi.     Postage  16  cents. 

9.  Monazlte  and  Monazite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  by  Henry  B.  C.  Nitze, 
1895.     8°,  47  pp.,  5  pi.     Out  of  print. 

10.  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina  and  other  Appalachian  States,  by  Henry 
B.  C.  Nitze  and  A.  J.  Wilkins.  1897.     8°.  164  pp..  10  pi.     Out  of  print. 

11.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  of  Western  North  Carolina, 
by  .1.  Volney  Lewis.  1895.     8°.  107  pp..  6  pi.     Out  of  print. 

12  Historv  of  the  Gems  Found  in  North  Carolina,  by  George  Frederick 
Kunz.  1907. '  8°,  60  pp..  15  pi.  Postage  S  cents.  Cloth-hound  copy  30  cents 
extra. 

13.  Clav  Deposits  and  Clay  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  by  Heinrich  Ries. 
1897.     8°,'  157  pp..  12  pi.     Postage  10  cents. 

14.  The  Cultivation  o$  the  Diamond-back  Terrapin,  by  R.  E.  Coker.  1906. 
8°,  67  pp..  23  pi..  2  figs.     Out  of  print. 

15.  Experiments  in  Oyster  Culture  in  Pamlico  Sound.  North  Carolina,  by 
Robert  E.  Coker.  1907.     8°,  74  pp..  17  pi..  11  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

16.  Shade  Trees  for  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe.  1908.  8°.  74  pp.,  10  pi.. 
16  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

17.  Terracing  of  Farm  Lands,  by  W.  W.  Ashe.  1908.  8°,  38  pp..  6  pi..  2  figs. 
Postage  )  cents. 

18.  Bibliosraphv  of  North  Carolina  Geologj-.  Mineralogy,  and  Geography, 
with  a  list  of  Maps,  by  Francis  Baker  Laney  and  Katherine  Hill  Wood,  1909. 
8°.  428  pp.     Postage  25  cents.     Cloth-hound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

19.  The  Tin  Deposits  of  the  Carolinas.  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  Douglas 
B.  Sterrett,  1905.     8°.  64  pp..  8  figs.     Postage  4  cents. 

20.  Water-powers  of  North  Carolina  :  An  Appendix  to  Bulletin  8.  1910.  8°, 
383  pp.     Postage  25  cents. 

21.  The  Gold  Hill  Mining  District  of  North  Carolina,  by  Francis  Baker 
Lauey,  1910.     8°.  137  pp..  23  pi..  5  figs.     Postage  15  cents. 

22.  A  Report  on  the  Cid  Mining  District.  Davidson  County.  N.  C.  by  J.  E. 
Pogue.  Jr..  1911.     8°.  144  pp..  22  pi..  5  figs.     Postage  15  cents. 


50  PrBLICATIOXS    OF    THE    SURVKY. 

23.  Forest  Conditions  iu  Western  North  Carolina,  hy  J.  S.  Holmes.  1911. 
S°,  116  pp.,  S  pi.     Postage  13  cents. 

24.  Loblolly  or  North  Carolina  Pine,  by  W.  W.  Ashe,  1915.  8°,  176  pp.,  27 
pi.,  5  figs.     Postage  15  cents. 

25.  Monazite.  Zircon,  and  Other  Minerals  Used  in  the  Production  of  Chem- 
ical Compositions  Employed  in  the  Manufacture  of  Lighting  Apparatus,  liy 
Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.    In  press. 

ECONOMIC  PAPERS. 

1.  The  Maple-sugar  Industry  in  Western  North  Carolina,  by  W.  W.  Ashe, 
1897.     8°.  .34  pp.     Postage  2  cents. 

2.  Recent  Road  Legislation  in  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.  Out  of 
print. 

3.  Talc  and  Pyrophyllite  Deposits  in  North  Carolina,  bv  Joseph  Hvde  Pratt, 
1900.     8°,  29  pp.,  2  maps.     Postage  2  cents. 

4.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1900.  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1901.     8°,  .36  pp.,  and  map.     Postage  2  cents. 

Takes  ud  in  some  detail  Occurrences  of  Gold,  Silver,  Lead  and  Zinc,  Copper,  Iron, 
Manganese,  Corundum,  Granite,  Mica,  Talc,  Pyrophyllite,  Graphite,  Kaolin,  Gem 
Minerals,  Monazite,  Tungsten,  Building  Stones,  and  Coal  in  North  Carolina. 

5.  Road  Laws  of  North  Carolina,  by  J.  A.  Holmes.     Out  of  print. 

6.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1901,  bv  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1902.     8°,  102  pp.    Postage  .'/  cents. 

Gives  a  List  of  Minerals  found  in  North  Carolina;  describes  the  Treatment  of  Sul- 
phuret  Gold  Ores,  giving  Localities;  takes  up  the  Occurrence  of  Copper  in  the  Vir- 
gilina,  Gold  Hill,  and  Ore  Knob  districts;  gives  Occurrence  and  Uses  of  Corundum; 
a  List  of  Garnets,  describing  Localities;  the  Occurrence,  Associated  Minerals,  Uses 
and  Localities  of  Mica;  the  Occurrence  of  North  Carolina  Feldspar,  with  Analyses; 
an  extended  description  of  North  Carolina  Gems  and  Gem  Minerals;  Occurrences  of 
Monazite,  Barytes,  Ocher;  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Graphite  and  Coal; 
describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Building  Stones,  including  Limestone;  describes 
and  gives  Uses  for  the  various  forms  of  Clay;  and  under  the  head  of  "Other  Eco- 
nomic Minerals"  describes  and  gives  Occurrences  of  Chromite,  Asbestos  and  Zircon. 

7.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1902,  bv  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
1903.     8°,  27  pp.     Out  of  print. 

8.  The  Mining  Industry  In  North  Carolina  During  1903,  l)y  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1904.     8°,  74  pp.     Postage  //  cents. 

Gives  descriptions  of  Mines  worked  for  Gold  in  1903;  descriptions  of  Properties 
worked  for  Copper  during  1903,  together  with  assay  of  ore  from  Twin-Edwards 
Mine;  Analyses  of  Limonite  ore  from  Wilson  Mine;  the  Occurrence  of  Tin;  in  some 
detail  the  Occurrences  of  Abrasives;  Occurrences  of  Monazite  and  Zircon;  Occur- 
rences and  Varieties  of  Graphite,  giving  Methods  of  Cleaning;  Occurrences  of 
Marble  and  other  forms  of  Limestone;  Analyses  of  Kaolin  from  Barber  Creek,  Jack- 
son County,  North  Carolina. 

9.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1904,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1905.     8°,  95  pp.     Postage  J  cents. 

Gives  Mines  Producing  Gold  and  Silver  during  1903  and  1904  and  Sources  of  the 
Gold  Produced  during  1904;  describes  the  mineral  Chromite,  giving  Analyses  of 
Selected  Samples  of  Chromite  from  Mines  in  Yancey  County;  describes  Commercial 
Varieties  of  Mica,  giving  the  manner  in  which  it  occurs  in  North  Carolina,  Percent- 
age of  Mica  in  the  Dikes,  Methods  of  Mining,  Associated  Minerals,  Localities,  Uses; 
describes  the  mineral  Barytes,  giving  Method  of  Cleaning  and  Preparing  Barytes  for 
Market;  describes  the  use  of  Monazite  as  used  in  connection  with  the  Preparation 
of  the  Bunsen  Burner,  and  goes  into  the  use  of  Zircon  in  connection  with  the  Nernst 
Lamp,  giving  a  List  of  the  Principal  Yttrium  Minerals;  describes  the  minerals  con- 
taining Corundum  Gems,  Hiddenite  and  Other  Gem  Minerals,  and  gives  New  Occur- 
rences of  these  Gems;  describes  the  mineral  Graphite  and  gives  new  Uses  for  same. 

10.  Oyster  Culture  in  North  Carolina,  by  Robert  E.  Coker,  1905.  8°,  39  pp. 
Out  of  print. 

11.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1905,  bv  Joseph  Hvde 
Pratt,  1906.     8°,  95  pp.     Postage  //  cents. 

Describes  the  mineral  Cobalt  and  the  principal  minerals  that  contain  Cobalt; 
Corundum  Localities;  Monazite  and  Zircon  in  considerable  detail,  giving  Analyses  of 


PUBLIC ATIOXS    OF    THE    SURVEY.  51 

Thorianite;  describes  Tantalum  Minerals  and  gives  description  of  the  Tantalum 
Lamp-  gives  brief  description  of  Peat  Deposits;  the  manufacture  of  Sand-lime 
Brick;  Operations  of  Concentrating  Plant  in  Black  Sand  Investigations;  gives  Laws 
Relating  to  Mines,  Coal  Mines,  Mining,  Mineral  Interest  in  Land,  Phosphate  Rock, 
Marl  Beds. 

12.  Investigations  Relative  to  tlie  Shad  Fisheries  of  North  Carolina,  by 
John  N.  Cobb.  1906.     8°,  74  pp.,  8  maps.     Postage  6  cents. 

13.  Report  of  Committee  on  Fisheries  in  North  Carolina.  Compiled  by 
Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1906.     8°,  78  pp.     Out  of  print. 

14.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1906,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  1907.     8°,  144  pp.,  20  pi.,  and  5  figs.     Postage  10  cents. 

Under  the  head  of  "Recent  Changes  in  Gold  Mining  in  North  Carolina,"  gives 
methods  of  mining,  describing  Log  Washers,  Square  Sets,  Cyanide  Plants,  etc.,  and 
detailed  descriptions  of  Gold  Deposits  and  Mines  are  given;  Copper  Deposits  of 
Swain  County  are  described;  Mica  Deposits  of  Western  North  Carolina  are  described, 
giving  Distribution  and  General  Character,  General  Geology,  Occurrence,  Associated 
Minerals,  Mining  and  Treatment  of  Mica,  Origin,  together  with  a  description  of 
many  of  the  mines;  Monazite  is  taken  up  in  considerable  detail  as  to  Location  and 
Occurrence,  Geology,  including  classes  of  Rocks,  Age,  Associations,  Weathering, 
method  of  Mining  and  Cleaning,  description  of  Monazite  in  Original  Matrix. 

15.  The  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1907,  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt.  1908.     8°,  176  pp.,  13  pi.,  and  4  figs.     Postage  13  cents. 

Takes  up  in  detail  the  Copper  of  the  Gold  Hill  Copper  District;  a  description  of  the 
Uses  of  Monazite  and  its  Associated  Minerals;  descriptions  of  Ruby,  Emerald,  Beryl, 
Hiddenite,  and  Amethyst  Localities;  a  detailed  description  with  Analyses  of  the 
Principal  Mineral  Springs  of  North  Carolina;  a  description  of  the  Peat  Formations 
in  North  Carolina,  together  with  a  detailed  account  of  the  Uses  of  Peat  and  the 
Results  of  an  Experiment  Conducted  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  on 
Peat  from  Elizabeth  City,  North  Carolina. 

16.  Report  of  Convention  called  by  Governor  R.  B.  Glenn  to  Investigate  the 
Fishing  Industries  in  North  Carolina,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist,  1908.     8°,  45  pp.     Out  of  print. 

17.  Proceedings  of  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern.  North  Carolina, 
September  9,  1908.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1908.  8°,  94  pp.  Out  of 
print. 

18.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  New  Bern, 
North  Carolina.  November  11  and  12,  1909.  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt, 
and  containing  North  Carolina  Drainage  Law,  1909.     8°,  50  pp.     Out  of  print. 

19.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1909,  by  J.  S.  Holmes.  Forester, 

1910.  8°,  52  pp.,  9  pi.     Out  of  print. 

20.  Wood-using  Industries  of  North  Carolina,  by  Roger  E.  Simmons,  under 
the  direction  of  J.  S.  Holmes  and  H.  S.  Sackett,  1910.  8°,  74  pp.,  6  pi.  Post- 
age 7  cents. 

21.  Proceedings  of  the  Third  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  under 
Auspices  of  the  North  Carolina  Drainage  Association ;  and  the  North  Carolina 
Draina.ge  Law  (codified).  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  1911.  8°,  67  pp., 
3  pi.     Out  of  print. 

22.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1910.  by  J.  S.  Holmes.  Forester, 

1911.  8°,  48  pp.     Out  of  print. 

23.  Mining  Industrv  In  North  Carolina  During  1908,  '09.  and  '10,  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt  and  Miss"  H.  M.  Berry.  1911.  8°,  134  pp.,  1  pi..  27  figs.  Postage 
10  cents. 

Gives  report  on  Virgilina  Copper  District  of  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  by  F.  B. 
Laney;  Detailed  report  on  Mica  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett; 
Detailed  report  on  Monazite,  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett;  Reports  on  various  Gem  Min- 
erals, by  Douglas  B.  Sterrett;  Information  and  Analyses  concerning  certain  Mineral 
Springs;  Extract  from  Chance  Report  of  the  Dan  River  and  Deep  River  Coal  Fields; 
Some  notes  on  the  Peat  Industry,  by  Prof.  Charles  A.  Davis;  Extract  from  report  of 
Arthur  Keith  on  the  Nantahala  Marble;  Description  of  the  manufacture  of  Sand- 
lime  Brick. 

24.  Fishing  Industry  of  North  Carolina,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  1911.  8°,  44 
pp.     Out  of  print. 


5iJ  PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    SURVEY. 

25.  Proceedings  of  Second  Annual  Convention  of  tlie  Nortli  Carolina  For- 
estry Association,  lield  at  Kalcitrh.  Nortli  Carolina.  February  21.  1!>12.  Forest 
Fires  in  North  Carolina  Inning'  1911.  Suggested  Forestry  Legislation.  Com- 
piled by  J.  S.  Holmes.  P'orester.  1012.     S°,  71  pp.     Postage  v  cents. 

26.  Proceedings  of  Fourth  Annual  Drainage  Convention,  held  at  Elizabeth 
City.  North  Carolina,  November  15  and  16,  1911,  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt.  State  Geologist,  1912.     8°,  45  pp.     Postage  3  cents. 

27.  Highway  Work  in  North  Carolina*  containing  a  Statistical  Report  of 
Road  Work  during  1911.  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist,  and  Miss 
H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1912.     S°,  145  pp..  11  tigs.     Postage  10  cents. 

28.  Culverts  and  Small  Bridges  for  Country  Roads  in  North  Carolina,  by 
C.  R.  Thomas  and  T.  F.  Hickerson,  1912.     8°,  56  pp.,  14  figs.,  20  pi.     Postage 

10  cents. 

29.  Report  of  the  Fisheries  Convention  held  at  New  Bern,  N.  C.  December 
13.  1911.  compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist,  together  with  a 
Compendium  of  the  Stenographic  Notes  of  the  Meetings  Held  on  the  two 
trips  taken  by  the  Legislative  Fish  Committee  Appointed  by  the  General  As- 
sembly of  1909,  and  the  Legislation  Recommended  by  this  Committee,  1912. 
8°,  302  pp.     Postage  15  cents. 

30.  Proceedings  of  the  Annual  Convention  of  the  North  Carolina  Good  Roads 
A.ssociation  held  at  Charlotte.  N.  C  August  1  and  2,  1912,  in  Cooperation  with 
the  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  Compiled  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary,  1912.  8°,  109 
pp.     Postage  10  cents. 

31.  Proceedings  of  Fiftli  Animal  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Raleigh. 
N.  C,  November  26  and  27.  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State 
Geologist.     8°,  56  pp.,  6  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

32.  Public  Roads  Are  Public  Necessities,  by  Joseph  Hyde  I'ratt.  State  Geolo- 
gist, 1913.     8°,  62  pp.     Postage  5  cents. 

33.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1912  and  National  and  Associa- 
tion Cooperative  Fire  Control,  by  J.  S.  Holmes.  Forester.  1913.  8°,  63  pp. 
Postage  5  cents. 

34.  Mining  Industry  in  North  Carolina  During  1911-12.  by  Joseph  Hyde 
Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1914.     8°.  314  pp.,  23  pi.,  12  figs.     Postage  15  cents. 

Gives  detailed  report  oit  Gold  Mining  in  various  counties,  with  special  report  on 
Metallurfrical  Processes  used  at  the  Tola  Mine,  by  Claud  Hafer;  description  of  a 
Cyanide  Mill,  by  Percy  Barbour;  the  new  Milling  Process  for  treating  North  Carolina 
Siliceous  Gold  Ores  at  the  Montgonipry  Mine,  including  m  dosoriptinn  of  the  T'warrie 
Mining  Company's  Plant;  notes  on  the  Carter  Mine,  Montgomery  County,  by  Claud 
Hafer;  also  a  description  of  the  Howie  Mine  and  its  mill;  a  detailed  report  on  the 
Coggins  (Appalachian)  Gold  Mine,  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt;  a  I..ist  of  Gems  and  Gem 
Minerals  occurring  in  United  States;  special  descriptions  of  Localities  where  the 
Amethyst,  Beryl,  Emerald,  and  Quartz  Gems  occur,  as  taken  from  United  States 
Geological  Survey  Report,  by  Douglas  B.  Sterrctt;  a  report  on  the  Dan  River  Coal 
Field,  by  R.  W.  Stone,  as  reprinted  from  Bulletin  471-B  of  the  United  States  Geologi- 
cal Survey;  a  special  report  on  Graphite,  by  Edson  S.  Bastin,  and  reprinted  from 
Mineral  Resources  of  United  States  for  1912;  a  special  report  on  Asbestos,  describing 
both  the  Amphibole  and  Chrysotile  varieties;  a  report  on  the  Mount  Airy  Granite 
Quarry;  special  report  on  Sand  and  Gravel,  giving  Uses,  Definitions  of  "Various  Sands, 
etc.;  the  portion  of  a  Bulletin  on  Feldspar  and  Kaolin  of  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Mines  which  relates  to  North  Carolina,  and  which  takes  up  in  detail  Occurrences, 
Methods  of  Mining,  and  Descriptions  of  Localities  of  Feldspar  and  Kaolin  Mines  in 
North  Carolina,  prepared  Ijy  Mr.  A.  S.  Watts.  In  this  Kfonomic  Paper  are  also  given 
the  names  and  addresses  of  Producers  of  the  various  minerals  during  the  years  cov- 
ered by  the  report. 

35.  Good  Roads  Days,  November  5th  and  6th.  1913,  compiled  by  Joseph 
Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,   Secretary.     8°.  102  pp., 

11  pi.     Postage  10  cents. 

36.  Proceedings  of  the  North  Carolina  (Jood  Roads  Association,  held  at 
Morebcad  City.  N.  C..  July  .".l  and  August  1.  191:;.  In  Cor.i.eration  with  the 
Nortli  Carolina  (ieological  and  Economic  Survey.     Statistical  Report  of  High- 


PUBLICATIONS    OF    THE    SURVEY.  53 

way  Work  in  North  Carolina  During  1912.  Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Px-att. 
State  Geologist,  and  Miss  H.  M.  Berry,  Secretary.  8".  127  pp.,  7  figs.  Postage 
10  cents. 

37.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1913  and  a  Summary  of  State 
Forest  Fire  Prevention  in  the  United  States,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  Forester,  1914. 
S°,  82  pp.     Postage  S  cents. 

38.  Forms  covering  the  Organization  of  Drainage  Districts  under  the  North 
Carolina  Drainage  Law.  Chapter  442,  Public  Laws  of  1909,  and  Amendments. 
And  Forms  for  Minutes  of  Boards  of  Drainage  Commissioners  covering  the 
Organization  of  the  Board  up  to  and  Including  the  Issuing  of  the  Drainage 
Bonds.  Compiled  by  George  R.  Boyd,  Drainage  Engineer.  133  pp.  Postage 
10  cents. 

39.  Proceedings  of  the  Good  Roads  Institute  held  at  the  University  of  North 
Carolina,  March  17-19.  1914.  Held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Departments  of 
Civil  and  Highway  Engineering  of  the  University  of  North  Carolina  and 
The  North  Carolina  Geological  and  Economic  Survey.  8°,  117  pp.,  15  figs.. 
4  pi.    Postage  10  cents. 

40.  Forest  Fires  in  North  Carolina  During  1914.  and  Forestry  Laws  of  North 
Carolina,  by  J.  S.  Holmes,  State  Forester.  1915.     S°.  55  pp.     Postage  5  cents. 

41.  Proceedings  of  the  Seventh  Annual  Drainage  Convention  held  at  Wilson. 
N.  C,  November  18  and  19,  1914.     Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.     In  press. 

42.  Proceedings  of  the  Road  Institute  held  at  the  University  of  North  Caro- 
lina February  23-27.  1915.     Compiled  by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.     In  press. 

VOLUMES. 

Vol.  I.  Corundum  and  the  Basic  Magnesian  Rocks  in  Western  North  Caro- 
lina, by  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt  and  J.  Volney  Lewis.  1905.  8°,  464  pp.,  44  pi.. 
35  figs.     Postage  32  cents.     Cloth-bound  copy  30  cents  extra. 

Vol.  II.  Fishes  of  North  Carolina,  by  H.  M.  Smith.  1907.  8°.  453  pp..  21 
pi.,  188  figs.     Postage  30  cents. 

Vol.  III.  The  Coastal  Plain  Deposits  of  North  Carolina,  by  William  Bullock 
Clark,  Benjamin  L.  Miller.  L.  W.  Stephenson.  B.  L.  Johnson,  and  Horatio  N. 
Parker,  1912.     8°,  509  pp.,  62  pi.,  21  figs.     Postage  35  cents. 

Pt.  I. — The  Physiography  and  Geology  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Caro- 
lina, by  T\^m.  Bullock  Clark,  Benjamin  L.  Miller,  and  L.  W.  Stephenson. 

Pt.  II. — The  Water  Resources  of  the  Coastal  Plain  of  North  Carolina,  by 
L.  W.  Stephenson  and  B.  L.  Johnson. 

Vol.  IV.   Birds  of  North  Carolina.  ,  In  press. 

BIEX>IAL  REPORTS. 

First  Biennial  Report.  1891-1892,  J.  A.  Holmes.  State  Geologist.  1S93.  S  =  . 
Ill  pp.,  12  pi.,  2  figs.     Postage  6  cents. 

Administrative  report,  giving  Object  and  Organization  of  the  Survey;  Investiga- 
tions of  Iron  Ores,  Building  Stone,  Geological  "^"ork  in  Coastal  Plain  Region,  in- 
cluding supplies  of  drinking-waters  in  eastern  counties,  Report  on  Forests  and  Forest 
Products,  Coal  and  Marble,  Investigations  of  Diamond  Drill. 

Biennial  Report  1893-1894,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1894.  8^  15  pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report.  1895-1896,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist,  1896.  8°.  17  pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  1897-1898,  J.  A.  Holmes,  State  Geologist.  1898.  8°,  28  pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 

Administrative  report. 


54  PIBLICATIOXS    OF    THE    SURVEY. 

Biennial  Rei.ort,  l.sm»-l!MM>.  j.  A.  Holmes.  State  Geologist,  I'JOO.  S°,  20  pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report.  lOOl-lOOi'.  .7.  A.  Holmes.  State  Geolofiist,  1002.  S°,  15  pp. 
Postage  1  cent. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report,  lf»03-in()4.  .7.  A.  Holmes.  State  Geologist.  1905.  S°,  32  pp. 
Postage  2  cents. 

Administrative  report. 

Biennial  Report  1905-1900.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist.  1907.  S°.  60 
pp.     Postage  3  cents. 

Administrative  report;  report  on  certain  swamp  lands  belonging  to  the  State,  by 
W.  W.  Ashe;  it  also  gives  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations. 

Biennial  Report,  1907-1908,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  Geologist.  1908.  8°, 
60  pp.,  2  pi.     Postage  5  cents. 

Administrative  report.  Contains  Special  Report  on  an  examination  of  the  Sand 
Banks  along  the  North  Carolina  Coast,  by  Jay  F.  Bond,  Forest  Assistant.  United 
States  Forest  Service;  certain  magnetic  observations  at  North  Carolina  stations; 
Results  of  an  Investigation  Relating  to  Clam  Cultivation,  by  Howard  E.  Enders  of 
Purdue  University. 

Biennial  Report,  1909-1910,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1911.  8°, 
152  pp.     Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report  and  contains  Agreements  for  Cooperation  in  Statistical 
Work,  and  Topographical  and  Traverse  Mapping  Work  with  the  United  States 
Geological  Survey;  Forest  Work  with  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture 
(Forest  Service);  List  of  Topographic  maps  of  North  Carolina  and  counties  partly 
or  wholly  topographically  mapped;  description  of  special  Highways  in  North  Caro- 
lina; suggested  Road  Legislation;  list  of  Drainage  Districts  and  Results  of  Third 
Annual  Drainage  Convention;  Forestry  reports  relating  to  Connolly  Tract,  Buncombe 
County  and  Transylvania  County  State  Farms;  certain  Watersheds;  Reforestation 
of  Cut-over  and  Abandoned  Farm  Lands  on  the  Woodlands  of  the  Salem  Academy 
and  College;  Recommendations  for  the  Artificial  Regeneration  of  Longleaf  Pine  at 
Pinehurst;  Act  regulating  the  use  of  and  for  the  Protection  of  Meridian  Monuments 
and  Standards  of  Measure  at  the  several  county-seats  in  North  Carolina;  list  of 
Magnftie  Declinations  at  the  county-scats.  January  1.  1910;  h'ttci-  nf  Fisli  C'unimis- 
sioner  of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Fisheries  relating  to  the  conditions  of  the 
North  Carolina  fish  industries;  report  of  the  Survey  for  the  North  Carolina  Fish 
Commission  referring  to  dutch  or  pound-net  fishing  in  Albemarle  and  Croatan  sounds 
and  Chowan  River,  by  Gilbert  T.  Rude,  of  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey;  Historical  Sketch  of  the  several  North  Carolina  Geological  Surveys,  with 
list  of  publications  of  each. 

Biennial  Report.  1911-1912,  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt.  State  (leologist.  1913.  8°, 
118  7>p.     Postage  7  cents. 

Administrative  report,  and  contains  reports  on  method  of  construction  and  esti- 
mate of  cost  of  road  improvement  in  Stantonsburg  Township,  Wilson  County;  report 
on  road  conditions  in  Lee  County;  report  on  preliminary  location  of  section  of  Spar- 
tanburg-Hendersonville  Highway  between  Tryon  and  Tuxedo;  report  of  road  work 
done  by  U.  S.  Office  of  Public  Roads  during  biennial  period;  experiments  with 
glutrin  on  the  sand-clay  road;  report  on  Central  Highway,  giving  Act  establishing 
and  report  of  trip  over  this  Highway;  suggested  road  legislation;  report  on  the 
Asheville  City  watershed;  report  on  the  Struan  property  at  Arden,  Buncombe 
County;  report  on  the  woodlands  on  the  farm  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Kilgore,  Iredell  County; 
report  on  examination  of  the  woodlands  on  the  Berry  place.  Orange  County;  report 
on  the  forest  prnijcrty  of  IMiss  Julia  A.  'I'honic  .Ashclxm..  K:iii(lulph  Cnuiily;  report 
on  the  examination  of  the  forest  lands  of  the  Butters  Lumber  Company,  Columbus 
County;  proposed  forestry  legislation;  swamp  lands  and  drainage,  giving  drainage 
districts;  suggested  drainage  legislation;  proposed  Fisheries  Commission  bill. 

Biennial  Report,  1913-1914.  Joseph  Hyde  Pratt,  State  Geologist,  1915.  8°, 
165  pp.     Postage  10  cents. 

Administrative  report,  niid  centnins  reports  on  tlio  work  of  (ho  State  convicts  on 
Ilickerv  Xiii  C.iii  i:,,;mI.  II,  luj.rvMii  Coiniiy.  and  on  the  link  of  tho  Central  Highway  in 
Madison  Cmntx  \\lii(h  i-  inini;  cn-inni ed  with  State  convicts;  report  on  road  work 
accomplished  iiy  till  si:it,'  Smvey  :in(l  liy  ilie  U.  S.  Office  of  ruhlic  Roads  during  biennial 
period:  suggested  i.kmI  h-isl.il  ion  ;  a  forestry  policy  for  .N'orfli  Carolina:  report  on  in- 
vestigation. Tiiniiei  -iippl.v  of  North  Carolina;  reports  <>n  the  examination  of  certain 
forest  lands  in  il.ililnx  (  nnnly:  report  on  the  ash  in  North  Carolina:  report  on  the 
spruce  forests  of  Mount  .Mitcliell  :  i-i-jiort  on  forest  fire  conditions  in  the  sontheastern 
States,  by  J.  S.  Holmes.     Keport  on  the  worU  of  the  I".  S.   Forest   Service  in  .\orth  Caro- 


PUBLICATION'S    OF    THE    SURVEY.  55 

lina  in  connoctioii  with  tlie  purcliase  of  forest  reserves  and  tlieir  protection  ;  timber 
tests,  including-  strengtli  of  timber,  preservation  of  timber,  timber  suitable  to  produce 
pulp,  distillation  of  certain  woods  and  drying  certain  woods;  suggested  forestry  legisla- 
tion ;  report  on  tlie  swamp  lands  and  tlieir  drainage  in  North  Carolina  ;  suggested  drain- 
age legislation  :  report  on  magnetic  observations  made  during  biennial  period  ;  report  on 
the  economic  value  of  the  fisheries  of  North  Carolina  :  report  on  the  survey  made  In 
Albemarle,  Croatan.  and  Pamlico  sounds  by  the  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  ;  suggested 
fisheries  legislation. 


Samples  of  luiy  mineral  found  in  tlie  State  may  be  sent  to  the  otiice  of  the 
Geological  and  Economic  Survey  for  identification,  and  the  same  will  be  classi- 
fied free  of  charge.  It  must  be  understood,  however,  that  no  assays  or  quan- 
titative DETERMINATIONS  WILL  BE  MADE.  Samples  sliould  be  in  a  lump  form  if 
possible,  and  marked  plainly  on  outside  of  package  with  name  of  sender,  post- 
office  address,  etc. ;  a  letter  should  accompany  sample  and  stamp  should  be 
enclosed  for  reply. 


These  publications  are  mailed  to  libraries  and  to  individuals  who  may 
desire  information  on  any  of  the  special  subjects  named,  free  of  charge,  except 
that  in  each  case  applicants  for  the  reports  should  forward  the  amount  of 
postage  needed,  as  indicated  above,  for  mailing  the  bulletins  desired,  to  the 
State  Geologist,  Chapel  Hill,  X.  C. 


■m. 


■teft-l 


